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 28, 2022
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 2 and Eothinon 11
Righteous Father Moses of Ethiopia
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 2
When thou, O immortal Life, didst humble thyself unto death, then didst thou destroy death by the brightness of thy Godhead; and when thou didst raise the bowels of the earth, then all the heavenly powers exclaimed, O Christ, thou art the Giver of life! Glory to thee, O our God!
Apolytikion of St. Moses the Ethiopian – Tone 1
Thou didst prove to be a citizen of the desert, an angel in the flesh, and a wonderworker, O Moses, our God-bearing Father. By fasting, vigil, and prayer thou didst obtain heavenly gifts, and thou healest the sick and the souls of them that have recourse to thee with faith. Glory to Him that hath given thee strength. Glory to Him that hath crowned thee. Glory to Him that worketh healings for all through thee.
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 Nativity of the Theotokos – Tone 4
By thy holy nativity, O pure one, Joachim and Anne were delivered from the reproach of barrenness; and Adam and Eve were delivered from the corruption of death; thy people do celebrate it, having been saved from the stain of iniquity, crying unto thee, the barren doth give birth to the Theotokos, who nourisheth our life.
Epistle – I Corinthians 9:2-12 (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 117:14, 18. The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse. The Lord has chastened me sorely.
BRETHREN, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
Gospel – Matthew 18:23-35 (Eleventh Sunday of Matthew)
THE LORD SPOKE THIS PARABLE: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pray you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 15:1-11 (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 19:16-26 (Twelfth 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.”
AUGUST 28, 2022 – ELEVENTH 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 28 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Helen Allison, Khouryee Alice Kerbaway Dalack, Linda S. Fauty, and Watfa Riche. Memory eternal!
Drs. Amal and Gregory Dalack and Kh. Laila Ellias offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Kh. Alice Kerbaway Dalack. Memory eternal!
Carol Makhoul offers Prayers of Oblation for the health of her sister, the handmaiden of God Denise McBride. Many years!
Dr. Sam and Samar Shahem offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Watfa Richeh. Memory eternal
NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Hannah Nehme and Oscar Salloum. 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.
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), Robert Forcina (Ditmas Park Rehab), Nicholas Massab (NYU Lutheran), Rouda Abboud, Albert Absey, Yvonne Allawh, Claudette Budai, John Eyd, Diana Finger, Mary Ganim, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Renee Setteducato, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
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 NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS – We will celebrate the patronal feast day of our parish with a Vesperal Divine Liturgy on Wednesday, September 7 at 7:00 PM. The actual feast falls on Thursday, September 8. There will be a luncheon for the feast on Sunday, September 11, following the Divine Liturgy. Please see the invitation letter and form in this bulletin to make reservations for the luncheon. All are welcome.
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 is 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 – As we approach the end of one church year and the beginning of another, we have an opportunity to think about the long-term stability of our parish. Have I included my beloved St. Mary’s Church in my will or estate plan for the benefit of my grandchildren?
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER - “Listen to the voice of creation” is the theme and invitation of this year’s Season of Creation. The ecumenical phase begins on September 1 with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. It is a specific time for all Christians to pray and to work together to care for our common home. St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church will host a prayer service for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, on Thursday, September 1, at 9 AM.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, September 7 Vesperal Divine Liturgy, 7:00 PM
Thursday, September 8 Nativity of the Theotokos
Saturday, September 10 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
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 – “Faith is the key of Gpd’s treasury. She dwells in simple, kind, loving hearts. ‘All things are possible to him that believeth.’ Faith is a spiritual mouth, the more freely it opens the greater the stream by which the Divine springs enter into it; let this mouth freely open, as your bodily one does; do not let your lips be compressed by doubt and unbelief: if you compress them by doubt and unbelief, the treasury of Gods’ blessings will be closed to you.”
- St. John of Kronstadt
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America