Sunday, September 26, 2021
Repose of St. John the Evangelist and Theologian
Tone 5 and Eothinon 3
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 Repose of St. John the Theologian – Tone 2
O Apostle, speaker of divinity, the beloved of Christ God, hasten and deliver thy people powerless in argument; for he on whose bosom thou didst lean accepteth thee as an intercessor. Beseech him, therefore, to disperse the cloud of the stubborn nations, asking for us safety and 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 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 – I John 4:12-19 (St. John the Divine)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 18:4, 1. His sound has gone forth into all the earth.
Verse. The heavens declare the glory of God!
THAT WHICH WAS FROM THE BEGINNING, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our own eyes, that which we have beheld, and which our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life – for the Life was manifested, and we have seen it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the Eternal Life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us – that which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you, that you also may have communion with us; and indeed our communion is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled. And this is the proclamation which we have heard from Him and proclaim it to you: that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have communion with Him and walk in darkness, we lie, and we do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have communion with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Gospel – John 19:25-27; 21:24-25 (Repose of St. John the Divine)
AT THAT TIME, standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Next week’s homework: II Corinthians 4:6-15 (15th Sunday after Pentecost)
Luke 6:31-36 (Second Sunday of Luke)
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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 – REPOSE OF SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST AND THEOLOGIAN
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 26 - We 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, Emileen Hanna, 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 and Victoria Tadross. Memory eternal!
Dorothy Downie offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Donald O. Page, Archpriest Paul Schneirla, Kh. Shirley Schneirla, and William Sutfin Schneirla, Jr. Memory eternal!
Alice Carolyn and David Furer offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of Carol’s mother, Victoria Fiani Dib. Memory eternal!
Gabriel Golam offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Avjon and Dimitry Golam. Memory eternal!
George Salamy offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Barbara Salamy. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dorothy Howie, Gary Kassatly, Bernice Wardi Lutfy, Nora Manolescu, Elias Massabni, Alice S. Merhige, Edmund Shawah, Herbert Trabulsi, Fred Zahka, Antoun Zgheib, and Edna and Philip Zrike. Memory eternal!
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.”
COFFEE HOUR – Weather permitting, there will be a “Grab and Go” Coffee Hour in front of the church following the Divine Liturgy. We 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.
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), Marcel Kinani (NYU Lutheran), Nataliya Latushkina (Mineola), 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).
TEEN SOYO – Teen SOYO will meet after today’s Divine Liturgy. All teens (12-19) are welcome and encouraged to participate. Please see Joseph Khouzami, Luke Spolar, Anna Athineos or Advisors Daria Mayrose and Angela Athineos for more information.
BIBLE STUDY – We will continue our study of the Gospel of Matthew this Wednesday at 7:00 PM. Please bring your Orthodox Study Bible. All are welcome, no experience necessary.
PLEDGE GIVING – During these extraordinary times we ask everyone to maintain their pledge giving as much as possible. 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.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – We extend our heartiest congratulations to the Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing Committee for its very successful 12th edition of this event last Monday at the Hempstead Golf and Country Club. Special thanks to Co-Chairs Bob Mackoul and Daria Mayrose, and to their committee, including Denise Alexander, Josette and John Generale, Janette Mellor, Cathy and Ray Saleeby, and Irene Tashji, as well as to all the volunteers, golfers, tennis players, donors and supporters. God’s blessings on the major sponsors – the Sabbagh and Basso Families, the Mackoul Family, and Audrey and Charlie Sahadi, Robert Sahadi, and all of their enterprises. God willing, we will see everyone next year for #13!
STREET NAMING – The City of New York will dedicate the corner of Ridge Boulevard and 81st Street in honor of Very Rev. Fr. Paul W.S. Schneirla on Sunday, October 24, following the Divine Liturgy.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, September 29 Bible Study, 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 2 Diwan Baptisms, 2:00 PM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Saturday, October 9 Yang-Lee Wedding, 2:30 PM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Monday, October 11 Parish Council, 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 – “As long as you have hands, stretch them out to heaven in prayer.”
- St. Isaac the Syrian