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, October 13, 2024
Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council
Tone 7 and Eothinon 5
Hieromartyr Jacob of Hamatoura
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 7
Thou didst shatter death by thy Cross. Thou didst open paradise to the thief. Thou didst turn the mourning of the ointment-bearing women into joy, and didst bid thine Apostles proclaim a warning that thou hast risen, O Christ, granting to the world thy Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of the Holy Fathers – Tone 8
Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, glory to thee.
Apolytikion of St. Jacob of Hamatoura – Tone 3
As a cedar of Lebanon thou growest, never fearing thy martyrdom and death, thou becamest a true victor, O Saint Jacob. For thou didst overcome death with thy mortal flesh, when thou didst tame all the passions by humility. And while burning like incense, as a true sacrifice, thou intercedeth with Christ to grant our souls the great mercy.
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 Theotokos – Tone 2
O undisputed intercessor of Christians, the mediatrix unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions, though we be sinners. Come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, with assistance; for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who dost ever intercede for those who honour thee.
Epistle – Titus 3:8-15 (Holy Fathers)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 31.11, 1. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous.
Verse. Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven.
TITUS, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.
When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.
All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all. Amen.
Gospel – Luke 8:5-15 (Fourth Sunday of Luke)
THE LORD SPOKE THIS PARABLE: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.”
And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, Jesus said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.” As Jesus said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Next week’s homework: II Corinthians 6:16-7:1 (17th Sunday after Pentecost)
Luke 8:26-39 (Sixth Sunday of Luke)
OCTOBER 13, 2024 – SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE SEVENTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
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.
OCTOBER IS YOUTH AND SEMINARY MONTH IN THE ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE!
TODAY, OCTOBER 13 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Edward Arida, Selma Assatly, Doris Farkouh Creidy, Janet M. Gehshan, John G. Golam, Margaret Mackoul, Helen Orfaly, Beder and Sadallah Sabbagh, Virgina M. and George A. Sahadi, and Michael Zarouni. Memory eternal!
Louise Sahadi offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of her parents, Virginia M. and George A. Sahadi. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary Fauty, Sophie Fauty, Henry Hadad, Sr., George P. James, Marie Khoury, Samia, Fareed, George, Anne, and Hazel Khoury, Annette Lattof, John Martin, Temam Kotite Samra, Edith and Mitchell A. Tadross, and George Wardi. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Diana Finger (Meadowbrook, Freeport), Rouda Abboud, Isla Albishara, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, Anita Eyd, Alice Farkouh, George Khoury, Joseph Khouri, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, and Rose Zrake (at home).
COFFEE HOUR – In the absence of a sponsor for today’s Coffee Hour, the Parish Council will place a basket on the table for our free will offerings.
HOLY BREAD – Linda and George Salamy have made a donation for the entire year. Many years! Additional donors are welcome for October and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
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.”
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR OCTOBER – We observe the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil, and their by-products) on Wednesdays and Fridays.
YOUTH MONTH – During October our teens will read the epistle, assist with the distribution of the Eucharist, and serve as ushers.
THEOLOGICAL OFFERING – Our October pledge envelopes included a green envelope marked “Theological Offering.” This account is one of the three mandatory “trays” we collect each year for the Antiochian Archdiocese and supports our seminaries in North America. Our minimum contribution as a parish is $500. Our faithful can either drop their envelope in the collection tray on Sundays or return it to the church office. If you are not receiving pledge envelopes, please inform the church office so that we can add you to our list of supporters. Thank you for your generous support of our seminaries.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – Although final figures are not yet available, we can safely say that this year’s outing was among the most successful we have had. We once again extend congratulations to the Executive Committee of Ed Mackoul, Rob Mackoul, and Daria Mayrose, along with all the volunteers, donors, and sponsors, especially the Basso, Mackoul, Sabbagh, and Sahadi Families and their businesses.
FALL BIBLE STUDY – We will begin our “fall term” on Wednesday, October 16, at 7 PM. We will study the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts of the Apostles. We will use the Orthodox Study Bible which is available from our parish bookstore. Please see Lorraine Deeb to obtain a copy. For remote access use the Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81008521083?pwd=QUEyZm8wdmc4aUxTdTdOMzVPN2lRUT09.
MIDNIGHT RUN – In the absence of Deacon Farid this month, Sam Maalouf and Marwan Al-Laham will lead our delegation for the Midnight Run into Manhattan to minister to the homeless and immigrant populations this Friday.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Friday, October 18 Midnight Run
Saturday, October 19 Bay Ridge Cares Pancake Breakfast
Great Vespers, 5 PM
Monday, October 21 Parish Council, 7 PM
Wednesday, October 23 “Our Time” Adult Fellowship, 1-3 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Make no mistake, O fool: toil and sweat for God’s sake, in the cultivation of virtues, precede hope in Him. If you believe, therefore, that God provides for His creatures and is omnipotent, show that your works are congruent with your faith; and then God will harken unto you and provide you with all that you need – without any effort on your part. And, furthermore, He will deliver you from every peril, harm and affliciton
- St. Issac the Syrian
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America