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, January 21, 2024
Twenty-Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 8 and Eothinon 11
Venerable Maximos the Confessor
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 8
O Compassionate One, thou didst descend from the heights; thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou mightest deliver us from passion. Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.
Apolytikion of Maximos the Confessor – Tone 8
Thou hast shown thyself, O God-inspired Maximos, as a guide to the Orthodox Faith, a teacher of true worship and purity; O star of the universe and companion of the bishops, O wise one. Through thy light thou hast enlightened all, O harp of the Spirit. Therefore, intercede with Christ God to save 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 of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple – Tone 1
Thou, O Christ God, who by thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love; for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.
Epistle – Colossians 3:4-11 (Twenty-Ninth Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 103.24, 1. O Lord, how magnificent are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
BRETHREN, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.
Gospel – Luke 17:12-19 (Twelfth Sunday of Luke)
AT THAT TIME, as Jesus entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When Jesus saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice, and fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Next week’s homework: I Timothy 1:15-17 (31st Sunday after Pentecost)
Luke 18:35-43 (Fourteenth Sunday of Luke)
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.
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR JANUARY – The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil or their byproducts) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays in January.
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.”
HOLY BREAD – Donors are welcome for January and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
JANUARY 21, 2024 – TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY AFTER 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, JANUARY 21 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Albert Absey, Najat Cristo, George Elkas, Rev. Milatios Fiani and Loretta Basilie-Matta Fiani, Claudette Golam, Dr. Douglas George Kalesh, John, Louise, Ned, and Viola Kalesh, Alexander G. Orfaly, Jr., Barbara Salamy, Renate and George Sheheri, Minas Sparsidis, and Thomas Anthony Zarr. Memory eternal!
Peter Elkas offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his father, the servant of God George Elkas. Memory eternal!
George Salamy offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Barbara Salamy. Memory eternal!
The Family of Albert Absey offers Prayers of Oblation, the Holy Bread, and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of his soul. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 28 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Katherine B. Cury, Siham Damalts and Yvonne Sahadi, Josephine Hadad, Marie Meena, Mitchell Merhige and Phillip Merhige, Edgar and Victoria Saadi, Suraya and Samuel Samaha, William Shamoun, and Gail Hall Zarr. Memory eternal!
Alice Farkouh will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Katherine B. Cury. Memory eternal!
Victor Sahama will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Suraya and Samuel Samaha. Memory eternal!
Nahla Bittar will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of the soul of her brother, the servant of God Nabil Bittar. A Coffee Hour in his memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
The Ladies of St. Mary’s will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Nabil Bittar. Memory eternal!
The Family of Robert Mackoul will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of his soul. Memory eternal!
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S – The Ladies of St. Mary’s will hold their first meeting of the calendar year on Sunday, February 4, following the Divine Liturgy. All women of the parish are welcome!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Rouda Abboud (SI University), Charlie Bryant (UPenn), John Eyd (Jewish Home, Freehold), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Richard Zogob (Carmel Richmond), 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).
BLESSING OF HOMES – Please see the flyer in this bulletin to request a home blessing.
WINTER COAT DRIVE – The Teen SOYO Winter Coat Drive will continue through February. Coats, scarves, gloves, blankets, and other cold weather attire are welcome. Please place your offerings on the table in the vestibule. We will distribute all items to local charities and recipients.
OUR TIME – Our (over 50) senior fellowship, “Our Time”, meets every other Wednesday, including Wednesday, January 31, from 1-3 PM. All are welcome. Please see Marilyn Tulaney for more information. In addition, Our Time sponsors Pickleball on Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9 PM. All players and spectators are welcome.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – The Annual Parish Meeting will take place on Sunday, March 3, following the Divine Liturgy. Please submit your nominations for the Parish Council to Vice Chair Dianna Russo Kitchen after securing the nominee’s willingness to serve.
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP – The Antiochian Village will host Winter Camp for teens in grades 7-12 on February 16-19. Registration forms for campers and staff are available online at https://avcamp.org/programs/winter-camp/. Also, registration for Summer Camp opened on Sunday, January 7. Please open an account and register at www.avcamp.org. Scholarship assistance is available from the camp and from the parish.
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.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Saturday, January 27 Great Vespers, 5:00
Saturday, February 3 Powers-Steur Wedding, 1:00 PM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, February 4 Ladies of St. Mary’s Meeting
Thursday, February 8 Pan-Orthodox High School Open House, 6:30 PM
Sunday, February 11 Super Bowl Watch Party, 5-10 PM
Monday, February 12 Parish Council, 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 3 Annual Parish Meeting
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Do not dishonor your conscience, perfectly instructing you always. Because she suggests to you the divine and angelic opinion, she sets you free from the hidden infections of the heart, and she gives you uprightness before God when you depart.”
- St. Maximus the Confessor