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, August 14, 2022
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 8 and Eothinon 9
Forefeast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 8
O Compassionate One, thou didst descend from the heights; thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou mightest deliver us from passion. Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.
Apolytikion of the Forefeast of the Dormition of the Theotokos – Tone 4
In faith, O ye people, leap for joy while clapping your hands; and gather in gladness on this day with longing and shout in radiant jubilance. For the Theotokos cometh nigh to departing from the earth unto the heights; and we glorify her with glory as the Mother of God in our unceasing hymns.
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 Forefeast of the Dormition of the Theotokos – Tone 4
In the Immaterial Spirit, the whole world hath been mystically adorned upon thy glorious memory; and it doth cry to the joyously: Rejoice, O Virgin, thou boast of the Christian race.
Epistle – I Corinthians 3:9-17 (Ninth Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 75.11, 1. Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse. God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
BRETHREN, we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are.
Gospel – Matthew 14:22-34 (Ninth Sunday of Matthew)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was in the middle of the sea, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against it. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.”
And Peter answered him, saying, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the mighty wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind became calm. And those in the boat came and worshipped Jesus, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennes’aret.
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 4:9-16 (Tenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 17:14-23 (Tenth 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.”
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
AUGUST 14, 2022 – NINTH 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, AUGUST 14 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Thuraya Abualehawareb, Stephanie Bittar, Lorice Grasso, Leon Hattab, Braheem Merhige, Laya Nehme, Alex Zagby, and Laila Zamlout. Memory eternal!
Carolyn and Peter Boyle and Family offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of their son Peter James (PJ) on the fourth anniversary of his repose. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 21 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Nassif K. Arida, Raphael Arida, Laurice and Zakieh Deeb, Dr. Antoine Fernaine, Michael Gehshan, Baheeya Jabara, Dr. Gabriel Jureidini, Irene Karkenny, Judith Kassatly, William Nafash, Rose Marie Sabah, Louise B. Savarese, Gladys Senior, and George Zarr. Memory eternal!
The children of Nassif K. Arida will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of their beloved father on the 40th anniversary of his repose. Memory eternal!
The Deeb Family will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Laurice and Alex Deeb, Mary and Nadim Antaky, and Zakieh and Emile Deeb. Memory eternal!
May Fernaine will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of her beloved husband, Dr. Antoine Fernaine. Memory eternal!
HOLY BREAD – James Harris and Family offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of August in loving memory of the handmaiden of God Barbara Ann Harris. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for August and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
COFFEE HOUR – In 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.
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.
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), Gabe Golam (Homestead, Newton, NJ), Rouda Abboud, Albert Absey, Yvonne Allawh, Charles Bryant, Claudette Budai, John Eyd, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, 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, 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.
FALL HAFLI – We have posted a new flyer on the bulletin board for the Fall Halfi, and we sent a mass email to the parish on Monday. Please see Chair Rima Alsifi Hazem for more information.
FEAST OF THE DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS - We invite everyone to attend the Divine Liturgy tomorrow at our sister church here in Brooklyn, Kimisis tns Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, at 224 18th Street. Matins begins at 8:30 AM followed by the Divine Liturgy.
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 have gone out. 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.
DATES TO REMEMBER
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 – “Since we sinners do not have the boldness to run directly to God from the start, we cry out to His Mother. She regenerates us; she intercedes; she anticipates all our afflictions. She is our protectress and helper, more honorable than all the angels, beyond compare more glorious than the Cherubim and Seraphim, second in rank only to the Holy Trinity. Oh, but she is so good…so sweet, that you want to embrace her at every moment and obtain consoling grace. The more you love, the more you are loved.”
- Elder Joseph the Hesychast
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America