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
His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH
Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, Pastor Rev. Deacon Farid Farkouh
Email: pastor@smaoc.org farkouhfarid@gmail.com
Sunday, July 24, 2022
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 5 and Eothinon 6
Great-Martyr Christina of Tyre
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 Great Martyr Christina of Tyre – Tone 4
O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions, since Thou art great in 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 – 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 Mathew)
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 balance of the year. Donors are welcome for July and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
COFFEE HOUR – In July and August the parish will host simplified Coffee Hours following the Divine Liturgy. In the future we will be seeking volunteers to help with preparation and clean up.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
JULY 24, 2022 – SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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.
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, JULY 24 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Rose and Dewey Awad, Khourieh Rose Khoury, George Sabbagh, Georgette and John Shahood, and Laurice Swaya. Memory eternal!
Albert Khoury offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Khourieh Rose Khoury. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 31 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Peter and Victoria Boragi, Agnes Hamwi, Alex N. Kalaf, Sr., Victoria Katen, Selma Klele, and Itidal Makdissi. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Rouda Abboud, Albert Absey, Yvonne Allawh, Charles Bryant, Claudette Budai, John Eyd, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Gabe Golam, Lily Lang, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Renee Setteducato, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
BACKPACK PROJECT – Teen SOYO will once again volunteer to assemble 48 backpacks for underprivileged students in District 20 of the NYC Department of Education in cooperation with FOCUS. Please see the list of items to go into the backpacks on the flyer in this week’s bulletins. We ask our supporters to purchase the items and to bring them to church by Sunday, July 31, or make a donation of $30 (payable to St. Mary’s Church earmarked “backpacks”), and we will shop, so that we can assemble the backpacks and deliver them to the school before the beginning of the academic year. The Teens thank you for supporting their community outreach project!
MIDNIGHT RUN – On the third Friday of each month Deacon Farid leads a group to participate in the Midnight Run which distributes food and clothing to the homeless on the streets of New York City. Volunteers can help in the early evening to prepare food for distribution, or they can make the actual trip a little later. The next Midnight Run will be on Friday, August 18. Please see Deacon Farid to volunteer or for more information.
FALL HAFLI – Please save the date, Friday, September 30, for our Fall Hafli. Please see Chair Rima Alsifi Hazem for more information.
POLL QUESTION – Would you rather attend a Vesperal Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Transfiguration on Friday, August 5, at 7 PM, or Matins at 9:30 and the Divine Liturgy at 10:30 on Saturday, August 6? Send Fr. Michael an email at pastor@smaoc.org with your preference.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – The invitations for this year’s Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing on Monday, September 19, at the Hempstead Golf and Country Club will go out this week. This year we will honor Dr. Alice Farkhouh with our Lifetime Achievement Award, and we will remember Dina and George Moore with the Victor J. Samra, Jr. Memorial Award. The deadline for the journal will be August 31. Please see Daria Mayrose for more information.
ON-LINE GIVING – St. Mary's Church now accepts donations online. Just visit https://smaoc.squarespace.com/donate and pay securely by credit card, debit card, or checking account. There is an option to indicate gifts made in honor of or in remembrance of someone.
ESTATE PLANNING – A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make in order to impact the ministry of the Church significantly. An estate plan can include a provision that leaves a lasting gift to St. Mary’s Church. A bequest could be a gift of specific assets, a dollar amount, or a percentage of the estate. A bequest could also be the residue of an estate after all gifts have been made to heirs. Consider naming St. Mary’s as a beneficiary on your retirement accounts (such as an IRA). Qualified charities are able to receive the full value of dollars in these plans without incurring income taxes
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, July 31 Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday
August 1-14 Dormition Fast
Saturday, August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration
Monday, August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Wednesday, September 7 Vesperal Divine Liturgy, 7:00 PM
Thursday, September 8 Nativity of the Theotokos
Sunday, September 11 St. Mary’s Feast Day Celebration
Monday, September 19 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
Friday, September 30 Fall Hafli
Saturday, October 1 Church School Sidewalk Sale
Saturday, October 15 Bay Ridge Eats for a Cause
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “What is the essence of Christianity? This – that the All-mighty, All-knowing Creator of the universe has such love and compassion for humankind, such care for people and their salvation, that He gave up His Only-Begotten Son to shame, the Cross and death. He cares not only for mankind as a whole, but for every person individually; each and every minute He holds him in His hand, protecting him from visible and invisible foes, granting him wisdom through other people, books, and life’s circumstances. If it is necessry to chastise a person in order to instruct him or to prevent him from falling into a worse mishap, He does so with mercy, and if a person is able to accept this in the right spirit, He rewards him greatly, as though He feels sorry for having issued the punishment.”
- Abbot Nikon (Vorobiev)
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America