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 SABA
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, June 4, 2023
Great Feast of Holy Pentecost
Today’s Hymns and Readings
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
During the Little Entrance – O Lord, in Thy strength the king shall be glad, and in Thy salvation shall he rejoice exceedingly. The desire of his heart hast Thou granted unto him, and hast not denied him the request of his lips. Thou wentest before him with blessings of goodness, Thou has set upon his head a crown of precious stones. He asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest him length of days unto ages of ages.
Entrance Hymn – Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thy own strength. We will sing and praise thy mighty acts. Save us, O good Comforter, as we sing to Thee: Alleluia.
Apolytikion of Pentecost – Tone 8
Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who has revealed the fishermen as most wise, having sent upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them thou has fished the universe, O Lover of mankind, glory to thee.
Kontakion of Pentecost – Tone 8
When the high One descended, confusing tongues, he divided the nations. And when he distributed the fiery tongues he called all to one unity. Wherefore, in unison we glorify the most Holy Spirit.
Instead of the Trisagion Hymn, “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have truly put on Christ. Alleluia.”
Epistle – Acts 2:1-11 (Sunday of Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 18.4, 1. Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse. The heavens declare the glory of God.
WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontos and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
Gospel – John 7:37-52, 8:12 (Sunday of Pentecost)
ON THE LAST DAY OF THE FEAST, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
When they heard these words, many of the people said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee.”
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Next week’s homework: Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2 (First Sunday and Sunday of All Saints)
Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30 (Sunday of All Saints)
FASTING DISCIPLINE – The week following the Sunday of Pentecost is fast-free.
JUNE 4, 2023 – THE GREAT FEAST OF HOLY PENTECOST
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.
SUNDAY, JUNE 4 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God George Fattouh, Wadih Massab, Alice Muscat, Adolph, Nicholas and Rose Smatt, and Henrietta Shawah. Memory eternal!
Jenfiaf Hakima offers Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the soul of her sister, the handmaiden of God Wared Alkori. Memory eternal. The Hakima Family also offers prayers for the Alkhori, Talab and Hakima Families.
NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 11 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Fouad Allawh, Edward Ateyeh Jr., Shafica Debagie, Michael Haje, Kathleen Halloran, Eduardo Elias Khouzami, Joseph G. Mashamesh¸ Betty Massab, Nicholas Orfaly, Albert T. Sabah, and Marianne Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
HOLY BREAD – Linda and George Salamy have made a donation for the entire year. Many years! Additional donors are welcome for June and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Rose Abdallah (NYU Langone/Lutheran), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD) and Rose Zrake (at home).
APOSTLES FAST – Each year the “Apostles Fast” or the “Fast of Saints Peter and Paul” extends from the Monday following All Saints Sunday (June 12 this year) until the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29). Let’s use this short fast to pray for missions and missionaries at home and abroad who are striving to carry out Jesus’ Great Commission.
OCMC – Our June pledge envelopes included a yellow envelope for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC). Please support global Orthodox mission efforts with your contributions.
APARTMENT NEEDED – A couple is seeking a one-bedroom apartment in the Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights or Sunset area. They need to move soon. If you have a space to rent or know of anyone who does, please call or text (850) 340-1385.
SUMMER SEMESTER – Our continuing education class for adults will meet on most Wednesdays of June and July at 7:00 PM. Our text will be Orthodox Christianity, Vol. 5: Sacraments and Other Rites by Metropolitan HILARION (Alfeyev). Please sign up to purchase a copy of the book at the parish bookstore. We will order them at a discount from St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press. If you cannot afford the price of the book, please see Fr. Michael in confidence.
SECOND FRIDAY – A group of young adults has asked for an opportunity to have an open discussion with the pastor. We will meet on the second Friday of each month at 7 PM. This first meeting will be this Friday, June 9. Please see Lara Rustom Al-Laham for more information. All are welcome!
SENIOR FELLOWSHIP – “Our Time,” the fellowship group at St. Mary’s for those over 50, will meet on Wednesday, June 7, from 1- 3 PM. The last gathering until September will be Wednesday, June 21. All are welcome. In addition, Our Time will sponsor Pickleball every Tuesday and Thursday in June from 7-9 PM. All players/spectators are welcome. Share your thoughts and ideas with Marilyn Tulaney at (718) 208-3616.
BACKYARD BBQ – The Parish Council will host a BBQ outside on the lawn (weather permitting) following the Divine Liturgy. Special guest will be Rula Khoury, President of the Antiochian Women of the East (AWE).
CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS – Several of our campers heading to the Antiochian Village Camp this summer could use a little scholarship assistance. If you are able to help with a contribution, please make your check payable to St. Mary’s Church with “Camp Scholarship” in the memo line. Fr. Michael will deposit any contributions in the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund and distribute the scholarships in confidence. Donors will receive an acknowledgement and receipt for tax purposes.
EASTERN DIOCESES PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – The parish of St. Moses the Black of Pittsburgh, PA, will host this year’s Parish Life Conference at the beautiful Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center in Ligonier, PA, from June 28-July 2. Information and registration are now open on-line at www.antiochianevents.com. Please register and make room reservations now in order to secure a place at the conference center itself.
56th ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION, Phoenix, AZ – Sunday, July 23, 2023-Sunday, July 30, 2023 – Hosted by St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Phoenix, AZ, at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. To book rooms at the hotel, register for the convention, purchase convention event tickets and obtain forms to place a message in the Souvenir Journal, go to www.ac2023az.org. Rooms are booking quickly for this historic convention.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, June 7 “Our Time” Adult Fellowship, 1-3 PM
June 6 and 8 Pickleball, 7-9 PM
Friday, June 9 Second Friday Fellowship, 7 PM
Saturday, June 10 No Great Vespers
Monday, June 12 Holy Apostles Fast Begins
Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Saturday, June 17 Family Movie Night, 7 PM
June 28 - July 2 Parish Life Conference @ Antiochian Village
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “We must love Christ; this is necessary for the life of our soul. We also need to love God’s creation: animals, trees, flowers, birds, and above all, the most perfect of God’s creation, man.”
- St. Amphilochios of Patmos