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 10, 2022
Hieromartyr Joseph of Damascus and His Companions
Tone 3 and Eothinon 4
45 Martyrs at Nikopolis in Armenia
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 St. Joseph of Damascus – Tone 5
Come, ye faithful, let us honor the martyr of Christ, a priest of the Church of Antioch; who by the word of the Word, and by his blood and the blood of his companions, baptized the land of Syria, its Church and its people. Being immersed in the light of the Gospel from his youth, he worked and taught and defended the Church of Christ and her flock. O father Joseph of Damascus, be for us an example, defending us and interceding for us fervently before the Savior.
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 – II Timothy 2:1-10 (St. Joseph of Damascus)
Prokeimenon. The saints shall boast in glory, and they shall rejoice upon their beds.
Verse. Sing unto the Lord a new song; His praise is in the church of the saints.
Timothy, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.
Gospel – Matthew 8:5-13 (Fourth Sunday of Matthew)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus entered Capernaum, and a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who were following him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Next week’s homework: Titus 3:8-15 (Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council)
Matthew 5:14-19 (Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council)
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 10, 2022 – HIEROMARTYR JOSEPH OF DAMASCUS AND HIS COMPANIONS
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 10 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary Farkouh, Amelia Khoury, Victor Makhoul, John Molfino, Edmund Saleeby, Ferris Samara, and Bassem Sukkarieh. Memory eternal!
Ruth Carol-Abdelnoor offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of her beloved husband, the servant of God George Abdelnoor. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 17 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Donald Abraham Ballan, Very Reverend Father Wakeem Dalack, Victor Farkouh, Gloria Saba Gallloway, Joseph Imtanios, Joseph A. Khoury, Eissa Makarious Laham, Marguerite Sabah, William Anthony Soued, and George Zrake. Memory eternal!
Patricia Ballan will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Donald Abraham Ballan. Memory eternal!
Helene and Marc Galloway will offer prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Gloria Saba Galloway. Memory eternal!
Nadia Soued will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God William Anthony Soued. Memory eternal!
Rose Zrake will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of her beloved husband, the servant of God George Zrake. 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, Robert Karkenny (CA), Lily Lang, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Renee Setteducato, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
PARISH COUNCIL – The Parish Council will hold its regular monthly meeting tomorrow, July 11, at 7:30 PM.
FAMILY NIGHT – We have resumed our Family Night gatherings at the church. Our next gathering will be on Friday, July 22, at 7:00 PM. All are welcome!
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 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, July 15. Please see Deacon Farid to volunteer or for more information.
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.
ESTATE PLANNING – Have I included St. Mary’s Church in my will or estate plan? What better way is there for me to set an example for my children and grandchildren about the importance of the church in my life?
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, July 11 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Friday, July 15 Midnight Run
July 18-22 Clergy Symposium @ Antiochian Village
August 1-14 Dormition Fast
Saturday, August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration
Thursday, September 8 Nativity of the Theotokos
Sunday, September 11 St. Mary’s Feast Day Barbecue
Saturday, September 17 Church School Sidewalk Sale
Monday, September 19 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
Friday, September 30 Fall Hafli
Saturday, October 15 Bay Ridge Eats for a Cause
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “If you wish not to grow angry against one who offends, you should diligently, from your whole heart, pray for him to God and give him some kind of gift or a small consolation. Go to him yourself when you see that he has come to himself from the anger, and speak about being forgiven your sin, find out the reason for his anger, and sow him yet greater love.”
- St. Paisius Velichkovsky
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America