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
Sunday, March 12, 2023
Second Sunday of Great Lent: Commemoration of
St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica
Tone 6 and Eothinon 6
Gregory the Dialogist, Pope of Rome
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 6
When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou that art risen from the dead! O Lord, glory to thee.
Apolytikion of St. Gregory Palamas - Tone 8
O Star of Orthodoxy, support of the Church and its teacher, O comeliness of ascetics, and incontestable champion of those who speak in theology, Gregory the wonder-worker, the pride of Thessalonica and preacher of grace, implore thou constantly for the salvation of our souls.
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 for the Sundays in Lent – Tone 8
To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that has that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.
Epistle – Hebrews 1:10-2:3 (Second Sunday in Lent)
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.
“IN THE BEGINNING, you, O Lord, didst found the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end.” But to what angel has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?” Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?
Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.
Gospel – Mark 2:1-12 (Second Sunday in Lent)
AT THAT TIME, when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to Jesus a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the paralytic – “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Megalynarion – In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation: the angelic hosts, and the race of men, O hallowed temple and noetic 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 He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation; and it glorifeth thee.
During Great Lent we celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.
Next week’s homework: Hebrews 4:14-5:6 (Third Sunday of Great Lent)
Mark 8:34-9:1 (Sunday of the Holy Cross)
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
MARCH 12, 2023 – SECOND SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT: COMMEMORATION OF GREGORY PALAMAS, ARCHBISHOP OF THESSALONICA
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.
MARCH IS LADIES’ MONTH IN THE ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE!
TODAY, MARCH 12 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Eleanor Couri, Dr. George B. Cury, Salwa Fauty, Gloria and Edward Jabara, Sr., Maurice Khzam, Violette Shamas Mahab, Nadima and Alfred G. Makhoul, Laila Nassr, Thomas Russo, and Robert William Thabit. Memory eternal!
Marie and Charlie Bryant, Laura, James, Luke and Oliver Wallace offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Laila Nassr. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 19– We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Raymonde Alexander, Mary Hamaty, Gloria L. Harris, Terez Ivantchev, Bikturia Kaba, Albert Kaidy, Fredrick Makhoul, Helen and Michael Nassoor, Olga and Abraham Saba, Frederick P. Schroeder, and Elias Shawah. Memory eternal!
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S - March is Ladies Month in the Antiochian Archdiocese. Barbara Deeb, Janice Deeb, Elsa Khzam, and Razan Maalouf will serve as ushers. The Epistle will be read by Angela Athineos in English and Lara Rustom in Arabic. Barbara Deeb, Janice Deeb, Razan Maalouf, and Terize Khouri will assist with the distribution of Holy Communion.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – As the faithful approach to reverence the cross, receive a blessing and a piece of antidoron (holy bread) at the dismissal, a reader will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please greet each other quietly as we reverently hear these prayers.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Mary Ganim (NYU Lutheran), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Rose Zrake (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Rhonda Byrnes, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, and Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD) (at home).
FASTING DISICIPLINE – The Great Fast began on February 27 and continues until our celebration of the Feast of Feasts, Pascha: Our Lord’s Resurrection. The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, fish, wine, olive oil, and their by-products) is observed on all weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays, wine and olive oil are allowed.
LADIES BATHROOM – The ladies’ bathroom on the hall level is under renovation. Please use the bathroom on the balcony or carefully share the men’s bathroom. We hope the temporary inconvenience will eventually be worth it!
SPRING FESTIVAL - Please join us after the Divine Liturgy for our first organizational meeting for our Spring Festival. We need volunteers to help with cooking, advertising, children's games, music, set-up, break-down and lots more. This is one of those events where each of our God given talents come together to showcase our community and faith. For more information call Chris Athineos at (347) 675-3655.
OUR TIME – Our “senior fellowship,” Our Time, will meet on Wednesday, March 15, 1-3 PM.
EARTHQUAKE RELIEF - Thank you to all who donated clothing and goods for the collection for Syria. The truck from Boston picked everything on Wednesday. The transporter will combine it with the rest of the donations from our sister churches in Allentown, Bergenfield, Little Falls and Yonkers as well as the New England churches and their respective communities. Everything will be shipped to Lebanon to the Balamand for distribution by our Patriarch JOHN X. This collection, along with our monetary where of our two churches (St. Nicholas and St. Mary) collected around $20,000 each, will help alleviate the pain and suffering in a small way. God bless you all!
LENTEN RESOURCES – Great Lent is here. Our parish Bookstore, dedicated to the memory of Elena Paris, has copies of the service books for Great Lent, including Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and Holy Week. There are also a few Lenten cookbooks available. Please contact Lorraine Deeb at ldeebsped@verizon.net or (718) 491-4996 to reserve your books.
SEMINARIANS – Our pledge envelopes for the month of March included a blue envelope marked “Seminarians.” Please use this envelope to support the Metropolitan’s annual appeal on behalf of our theological students. Our minimum contribution as a parish is $500. If anyone is currently not receiving pledge envelopes, please see Fr. Michael or Parish Council Chair Aline Farkouh.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – The traditional FFHP collection boxes will be available soon in the narthex. Remember the least of Christ’s brethren by depositing your extra change at the end of each day, and return the box on or before Palm Sunday.
LENTEN LITURGICAL SCHEDULE – There will be Great Compline each Monday night at 7:00 PM, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts each Wednesday at 6:30 PM, and the Akathist/Madayeh Service each Friday at 7:30 PM. This week’s Great Compline will be at St. Nicholas Cathedral. A Pot Luck Supper will follow each Wednesday service, and each parish organization will host a dinner prior to the Friday service. Great Vespers will continue each Saturday at 5:00 PM.
SACRAMENT OF REPENTANCE (CONFESSION) – The Great Fast is THE TIME for all believers to receive the Sacrament of Repentance (Confession). The pastor hears confessions by appointment and before and after all the divine services. Please do not wait until the last minute! If you would like to go to one of the other Orthodox priests in Brooklyn, feel free to do so, but inform the pastor.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – We thank and congratulate Aline Farkouh for her excellent year of leadership as Parish Council Chair and for directing last week’s Annual Parish Meeting. We also thank outgoing members Irene Tashji and Dr. Yvonne Zrake. We welcome incoming elected members Sonia Abou Naoum, Christopher Athineos, and Anthony Zrake, and pastoral appointees Wade Saadi, Rob Sabbagh, and Nahla Bittar Fattouh. The Parish Council will elect its officers at tomorrow’s meeting.
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S - The Ladies of St. Mary’s invite all our parishioners (men too!) to participate in our humanitarian project this year. We once again request the preparation of hygiene kits to be distributed to the homeless during the Midnight Run each month. In a one gallon ZipLock bag please include: 1 washcloth, bar of soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, nail clipper, comb, 3 band-aids, disposable razor (optional). Feel free to prepare more than one kit! The kits can be given to Sandra Arida or any of the Ladies. Thank you all for your support.
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?
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, March 12 Spring Festival Meeting
Monday, March 13 Great Compline at St. Nicholas Cathedral, 7:00 PM
Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, March 15 “Our Time” Senior Fellowship, 1-3 PM
Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 6:30 PM
Followed by Pot Luck Supper
Thursday, March 16 Ronald Couri Funeral, 10:00 AM
Friday, March 17 “Fellowship” Dinner, 6:30 PM
Madayeh/Akathist, 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 18 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Saturday, June 10 Spring Festival
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “To have faith in Christ means more than simply despising the delights of this life. It means we should bear all our daily trials that may bring us sorrow, distress, or unhappiness, and bear them patiently for as long as God wishes and until He comes to visit us. For it is said, ‘I waited on the Lord and He came to me.’”
- St. Symeon the New Theologian
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America