81st Street and Ridge Boulevard Website: www.smaoc.org
Brooklyn, NY 11209 Church Office: (718) 238-8008
Email: churchsecretary@smaoc.org Rectory: (718) 745-8481
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, Pastor Rev. Deacon Farid Farkouh
Email: pastor@smaoc.org farkouhfarid@gmail.com
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Sunday of the Holy Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ
Tone 1 and Eothinon 4
Venerable Daniel the Stylite
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 Forefathers – Tone 2
Thou hast justified by faith the ancient forefathers and through them thou hast gone before and betrothed unto thyself the Church of the Gentiles. Let the saints, therefore, take pride in glory; for from their seed sprouted forth a noble fruit, and she it was who gave birth to thee without seed. Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, save our souls.
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 for the Preparation for the Nativity – Tone 3
Today the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth in an ineffable manner to the Word before the ages. Rejoice, therefore, O universe, when thou hearest, and glorify with the angels and shepherds him who shall appear by his own will as a new babe, being God before the ages.
Epistle – Colossians 3:4-11 (Sunday of the Forefathers)
Prokeimenon. Daniel 3:26-27. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers.
Verse. For Thou art just in all that Thou has done to us!
BRETHREN, when Christ, who is our life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idol worship; for the sake of such things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience; wherein you also once walked, when you lived in these things. But now you also put them all away: anger wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language out of your mouths. Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his works; and having put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of his Creator, where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond, or free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Gospel – Luke 14-16-24 (Sunday of the Forefathers)
THE LORD SPOKE THIS PARABLE: “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for all is now ready.’ But, one by one, they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Next week’s homework: Hebrews 11:9-10, 32-40 (Sunday before the Nativity)
Matthew 1:1-25 (Sunday before the Nativity – Genealogy)
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 – Linda and George Salamy have made a donation for the entire year. Many years! Additional donors are welcome for December and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DECEMBER 11, 2022 – SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FOREFATHERS (ANCESTORS) OF CHRIST
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 receive the blessing and partake of the blessed bread at the dismissal. Please introduce yourself to our pastor during the coffee hour, and ask him about membership in the Orthodox Church.
DECEMBER IS ORDER OF ST. IGANTIUS OF ANTIOCH MONTH
TODAY, DECEMBER 11 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Alexander Deeb, Nellie and George Ellien, Charles Farkouh, Anna Ghiz, Gloria Hawaweeny, Nabeeha Klam, Charles Macrina, Edward Mamary, Elizabeth Nader, Virginia Zarr, Najeeb and Eli Zrake. Memory eternal!
The Ellias Family offers Prayers of Oblation for the health of Kh. Laila on her birthday. Many years!
The Bogris and Zrake Families offer Prayers of Oblation for the health of their matriarch, Rose Zrake, on the occasion of her 95th birthday. Many years!
The Deeb Family offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Laurice and Alexander Deeb, Mary and Nadim Antaki, and Zakieh and Emile Deeb. Memory eternal!
Louise Sahadi offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Gloria Hawaweeny and Charles Macrina. Memory eternal!
Madeline Zrike Rosenberger of Overland Park, KS, offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Isabel Zrake and George Zrike. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Eli Abdallah, Nora and Kalil Ballan, Ameenie Freije, Emily and Edward Ghazal, Pauline Haddad, Maria Hindelly, Leila M. Khouri, Edma Saab, Alberta Samaha, Nora Trefz, and Emil Tweel. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Albert Absey, Yvonne Allawh, Alex Araman, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Nicole Khouzami, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Renee Setteducato, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), Nancy Zarouni, and Rose Zrake (at home).
PARISH COUNCIL – The Parish Council will hold its regular monthly meeting tomorrow at 7:30 PM.
CANNED FOOD AND WINTER COAT DRIVES – Teen SOYO has placed two large boxes in the vestibule for their annual Canned Food and Winter Coat Drives. Please bring your contributions between now and December 13. We will distribute all items to local charities and recipients.
CHOIR CHRISTMAS PROGRAM - St. Mary’s Choir will postpone its program of Christmas music until next Sunday, December 18. We cordially invite all our parishioners to enjoy! Happily, this year we can all sing Christmas carols together. Word sheets will be provided.
FASTING DISICIPLINE – On November 15 we began the traditional 40-day Advent Fast in preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ on December 25. The Fast is divided into two periods. The first period is November 15 through December 19 when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, oil and their by-products) is observed. On Tuesdays and Thursdays during this time, wine and oil are permitted. On Saturdays and Sundays during this time, fish, wine and oil are permitted. Some Orthodox eat fish on all days except Wednesdays and Fridays. The second period is December 20 through 24 when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil) is observed, with wine and oil permitted on Saturday and Sunday.
CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE – The Ladies of St. Mary’s thank ALL the women and men who worked so tirelessly to make the 2022 Christmas Boutique a tremendous success by donating, setting up, buying, selling, packing up our merchandise and baking delicious desserts. We really appreciate everyone's efforts. See you next year at the 2023 Christmas Boutique!
FAMILY NIGHT – Please see the flyer in this bulletin for Family Night this Friday at 7:00 PM. See Lara Allaham for more information.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, December 12 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Friday, December 16 Family Night, 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 17 NYPD Christmas Party, 1-5 PM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, December 18 Choir Christmas Program
Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch Sunday
Wednesday, December 21 “Our Time” Adult Fellowship, 1-3 PM
Saturday, December 24 Orthros, 9:30 and Divine Liturgy, 10:30 am
Church School Christmas Pageant
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, December 25 Orthros, 9:30 AM
Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, 10:30 AM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
- Psalm 23:5-6
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America