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, September 10, 2023
Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross
After-Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos
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
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 5
Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For he took pleasure in ascending the cross in the flesh to suffer death, and to raise the dead by his glorious resurrection.
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 – Galatians 6:11-18 (Sunday before the Holy Cross)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 27:9, 1. O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse. To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
BRETHREN, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and not only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.
Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Gospel – John 3:13-17 (Sunday before the Elevation of the Precious Cross)
THE LORD SAID, “No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Next week’s homework: Galatians 2:16-20 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross)
Mark 8:34-9:1 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross)
HOLY BREAD – Roland Salloum and Wanda Salloum offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of September for the repose of the soul of their brother, the servant of God Oscar Salloum and all the departed members of the Salloum Family. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for September and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
FLOWERS FOR THE HOLY CROSS – Donors are welcome for the procession with the precious and life-giving Cross next Sunday, September 17. Please make your check payable to St. Mary’s Church with “flowers” in the memo line.
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.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 – SUNDAY BEFORE THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
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, SEPTEMBER 10 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Gloria Dirbas, Olga Lewis, Louise M. Martin, Nicholas Lian Massab, and Mary Zagby. Memory eternal!
George Trisciuzzi offers Prayers of Oblation for the health of the servant of God Dr. Emile Tryzlaar of Amsterdam. Many years!
NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Elizabeth Ganim Cohen, George Fauty, Victor Hamaty, Katherine and Wilfred Jabara, Alexander Orfaly, Wajieha Sabbagh, and Edward M. Traboulsi. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Robert Forcina (NYU Lutheran), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Rose Abdallah, Yvonne Allawh, Patty DeLuca, Diana Finger, George Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, and Rose Zrake (at home).
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR SEPTEMBER – We observe the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil, and their by-products) on Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursday, September 14, we remember the Elevation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross with the traditional fasting discipline.
BACKPACK PROJECT – Teen SOYO delivered 48 backpacks for underprivileged students in District 20 of the NYC Department of Education this week in cooperation with FOCUS. We are still looking for a few donors at $30/backpack. Please make checks payable to St. Mary’s Church with “backpacks” in the memo line. The Teens thank you for supporting their community outreach project!
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – The annual Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing will take place on Monday, September 18. Although the event journal has now gone to press, it is not too late to make reservations for the dinner. This year we are honoring Sam Kaiami with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Marie Louise Tashji with the Victor Samra, Jr. Memorial Award. See Daria Mayrose for more information.
CHURCH SCHOOL – Church School classes resume today. Please see Lorraine Deeb to enroll your students ages 4 through 18. Please see the flyer in this week’s bulletin for the Pancake Breakfast.
OUR TIME FELLOWSHIP – Our “senior” fellowship, “Our Time,” will resume meeting on Wednesday, September 13, from 1-3 PM. Please see Marilyn Tulaney for more information.
FAMILY GAME NIGHT – Everyone is welcome to share Family Game Night on the first and third Friday of each month from 7-9 PM. The next event is Friday, September 15.
MIDNIGHT RUN – Deacon Farid will lead our team for the Midnight Run into Manhattan to feed and clothe the homeless and immigrants this Friday, September 15. Please see the deacon if you wish to participate in the preparations or the actual distribution.
FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS – Our sisters and brothers at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church invite us to share Great Vespers for the Feast of the Holy Cross on Wednesday, September 13, at 7:00 PM. We will also share Orthros and the Divine Liturgy for the feast on Thursday morning.
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S - The Ladies of St. Mary’s will have their first meeting of the new church year on Sunday, September 24, after Divine Liturgy. All ladies welcome to attend!
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 – Do we remember when St. Mary’s Church had over 300 children in its Sunday School? Many of our faithful members do. God willing, we should plan for that many children again! “All things are possible” with Christ (Matthew 19:26). Invest in your grandchildren, support Christ’s Church, and bear witness to the faith through your will or estate plan.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, September 10 Church School resumes
Tuesday, September 12 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, September 13 “Our Time” Fellowship, 1-3 PM
Great Vespers @ Holy Cross G.O. Church, 7:00 PM
Friday, September 15 Family Game Night, 7-9 PM
Midnight Run
Saturday, September 16 Coan Twins Baptism, 11 AM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Monday, September 18 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
Sunday, September 24 10-Year Memorial – Fr. Paul Schneirla
Ladies of St. Mary’s Meeting
William Bittar Baptism, 1:30 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “If you are making something, you must call to mind the Creator of all things; if you see the light, remember the Giver of it. If you put on your clothes, recall whose gift they are, and thank Him who provides for your life. In short, let every action be a cause of your remembering and praising God, and lo, you will be praying without ceasing and therein your soul will always rejoice.”
- St. Peter of Damascus
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America