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
Monday, December 25, 2023
The Nativity of Our Lord, God and Savior Christ
The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
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.
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Entrance Hymn – From the womb before the morning star have I begotten Thee. The Lord hath sworn, and He will not repent; thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Save us, O Son of God, Who wast born of a Virgin; who sing the Thee. Alleluia.
Apolytikion of the Nativity of Christ – Tone 4
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath given rise to the light of knowledge in the world; for they that worshipped the stars did learn therefrom to worship thee, O Sun of justice, and to know that from the east of the Highest thou didst come. O Lord, glory to thee.
Kontakion of the Nativity of Christ – Tone 3
Today the Virgin giveth birth to the Transcendent in essence; the earth offereth the cave to the unapproachable One; the angels with the shepherds glorify him; and the Magi with the star travel on their way; for a new child hath been born for our sakes, God before the ages.
Instead of the Trisagion Hymn (“Holy God…”), “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia!”
Epistle – Galatians 4:4-7 (Nativity of Christ)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 65.4, 1. Let all the earth worship and sing to you.
Verse. Shout with joy to God, all the earth.
BRETHREN, when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir of God through Christ.
Gospel – Matthew 2:1-12 (Nativity of Christ)
WHEN JESUS WAS BORN in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
St. Basil Liturgy Megalynarion – All creation rejoiceth in thee, O thou who art full of grace; the angelic hosts and the race of men. O hallowed temple and spiritual paradise, glory of virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a little child, even our God who is before all the ages; for he made thy womb a throne, and thy body more spacious than the heavens. All creation rejoiceth in thee, O thou who art full of grace. Glory to thee!.
Instead of “We have seen the true light…” the Apolytikion of the Nativity in Tone 4.
Next week’s homework: II Timothy 4:5-8 (Sunday before Theophany)
Mark 1:1-8 (Sunday before Theophany)
DECEMBER 25, 2023 – THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS 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.
DECEMBER IS ORDER OF ST. IGANTIUS OF ANTIOCH MONTH
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
TODAY, DECEMBER 25 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Julie Aucar, Rachel Azar, George Couri, Wade Sahadi, and Victor S. Samara. Memory eternal!
Marie and Tony Aflak of Mid-East Bakery have donated the Holy Bread of Oblation tonight for the health and safety of their children. Many years!
NEXT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Fred Arida, Economous Faried Farkouh and Khouryee Wassila Farkouh, Rose Merhige, Effie Shraky, Anne Marie Smatt, and Demetri and Nazli N. Zayat. Memory eternal!
Our Parish Family will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Hooda Germack as we will do each year on the Sunday closest to her birthday, January 1. Memory eternal!
Deacon Farid and Aline Farkouh will offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Economous Farid Farkouh and Khouryee Wasilla Farkouh. Memory eternal!
Drs. Lori and Michael Smatt will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Anne Marie Smatt. Memory eternal!
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.”
COFFEE HOUR – There will be no Coffee Hour tonight or next week on New Year’s Day.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Charlie Bryant (UPenn), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, Alice Farkouh, George Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, and Rose Zrake (at home).
FASTING DISICIPLINE – There is no fasting from Christmas Day until January 5 which is a strict fast day in anticipation of the Epiphany of Christ.
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CARD – Many thanks to Marian Russo and Audrey Sahadi who once again coordinated our annual Community Christmas Card. Thanks to their work and your subscriptions, the project netted approximately $3000. Well done!
¬BOB SABBAGH MEMORIAL LOTTERY – Many thanks to Deacon Farid Farkouh for continuing the former LITTLE BIT ‘O LUCK drawing following the repose of Robert Sabbagh. The drawing took place this morning, and we will publish the winners next week. We’ll see you again next year!
FEAST OF EPHIPHANY – We will celebrate Festal Orthros at 6 PM and the Divine Liturgy for Epiphany with the Great Blessing of Water at 7PM on Friday, January 5. There will be a retreat for Young Adults at St. Nicholas Cathedral on Saturday morning and a retreat for Teens here at St. Mary’s Church following Great Vespers on Saturday, January 6. His Eminence, Most Rev. Metropolitan SABA, will preside at the divine services on Sunday, January 7. A luncheon will follow the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Please see Daria Mayrose for reservations.
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 – Have I included St. Mary’s Church in my will or estate plan?
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, December 25 Nativity of Christ (No services)
Saturday, December 30 No Great Vespers
Sunday, December 31 Orthros, 9:30 and Divine Liturgy, 10:30
New Year’s Eve Party
Friday, January 5 Royal Hours for Epiphany, 9-10:30 AM
Festal Orthros, 6:00 PM & Divine Liturgy for Epiphany
With the Great Blessing of Water
Saturday, January 6 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM & Teen Retreat, 6-8 PM
Sunday, January 7 Metropolitan SABA presides
Monday, January 8 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “This is the feast we celebrate today, in which God comes to live with human beings, that we may journey toward God, or return…that laying aside the old human being we may be clothed with the new, and that as in Adam we have died so we may live in Christ, born with Christ and crucified with him, buried with him and rising with him.”
- St. Gregory Nazianzus (Oration 38: On the Nativity of Christ)
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America