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, July 28, 2024
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 4 and Eothinon 5
Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon and Parmenas, Deacons and Apostles of the 70
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 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the disciples, saying, Death hath been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world 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 Transfiguration – Tone 7
Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld thy glory, O Christ our God: so that, when they should see thee crucified, they would remember that thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that thou art truly the effulgent Splendour of the Father.
Epistle – Romans 10:1-10 (Fifth 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, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified.
Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.
Gospel – Matthew 8:28-34; 9:1 (Fifth Sunday of Matthew)
AT THAT TIME, when Jesus came to the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.
And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.
Next week’s homework: Romans 12:6-14 (Sixth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 9:1-18 (Sixth Sunday of Matthew)
HOLY BREAD – The Arnuk and Spolar Families offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the months of July and August in loving memory of the servant of God Dr. Issam Arnuk. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for July 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.”
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
JULY 28, 2024 – FIFTH 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.
TODAY, JULY 28 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Rosanne Ganim Amodeo, Rose and Dewey Awad, Kenneth Jabara, Khourieh Rose Khoury, Lily Lang, George Sabbagh, Georgette and John Shahood. Memory eternal!
Malakie Khouri offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of her grandparents, Georgette and John Shahood. Memory eternal!
Roberta and Albert Khoury offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Khourieh Rose Khoury. Memory eternal!
Dianna and Arabella Kitchen offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of the soul of their husband and father John Kitchen. A Coffee Hour in his memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 4 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Victoria and Peter Boragi, William B. Cury, Alex N. Kalef, Sr., Victoria Katen, Selma Klele, and Victor Samra, Sr. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Howard Samara (Upper East Side Rehab), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, Anita Eyd, Alice Farkouh, George Khoury, Joseph Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, and Rose Zrake (at home).
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN PRISON MINISTRY – Today is Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry Sunday as established by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States. Please see the flyer in this bulletin for a summary of what this ministry does. To support this ministry, make your check payable to St. Mary’s Church with “OCPM” in the memo line.
FASTING DISCIPLINE – The final fasting season of the ecclesiastical year, the Fast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, begins August 1 and continues until August 14. The fasting period ends with the celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos on Thursday, August 15.
FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION – The Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ is Tuesday, August 6. We will celebrate Festal Orthros at 9:30 and the Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM. Donors are welcome to offer the grapes and seasonal fruits for blessing at the end of the Divine Liturgy.
SUMMER PLEDGES – As many members take their summer vacations, we ask everyone to maintain their pledge commitments as the summer months tend to be a little lean.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – The next edition of the Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing will take place on Monday, September 30, at the Hempstead Country Club. This year we will honor Dr. John and Denise Alexander with the parish’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and we will remember Yvonne and Albert Absey with the Victor Samra, Jr. Memorial Award. Mark your calendar, and details will appear early this summer.
DABKE CLASS – Lynn Rose Salim offers a Dabke Class on Wednesdays at 7 PM here in our social hall. Contact Lynn at (917) 227-1651 or lynnrose2000@hotmail.com for more information.
SUMMER SEMESTER – We will resume our online class this Tuesday, July 30, at 7 PM. The Zoom link is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81008521083?pwd=QUEyZm8wdmc4aUxTdTdOMzVPN2lRUT09.
Our text will be Orthodox Christianity, Vol. 5: Sacraments and Other Rites by Metropolitan HILARION (Alfeyev). Please purchase a copy of the book at the parish bookstore. If you cannot afford the price of the book, please see Fr. Michael in confidence. This week we will review chapter 3.
BACKPACK PROJECT – Teen SOYO will once again sponsor 48 backpacks for underprivileged students in District 20 of the NYC Department of Education in cooperation with FOCUS. We welcome donations of $25/backpack. Our total commitment is $1200. Please make checks payable to St. Mary’s Church with “Backpack” in the memo line. The Teens thank you for supporting their community outreach project!
ESTATE PLANNING – As July draws to an end, we approach the final fasting period of the year, the Dormition Fast, during which we contemplate the death of the Virgin Mary and our own mortality in the light of the Resurrection of Christ. This season is an opportune time for us to think about what we are leaving behind and to whom we are leaving it. After we have made financial provision for our children, grandchildren, and godchildren, could we not make provision for their spiritual wellbeing as well by leaving something in our estate plan for the church and its youth ministry?
DATES TO REMEMBER
August 1-14 Dormition Fast
Tuesday, August 6 Festal Orthros, 9:30 and Divine Liturgy, 10:30 AM
Summer Semester Class, 7 PM, online
Monday, August 12 Parish Council, 7:00 PM
Wednesday, August 14 Great Vespers @ Kimisis G.O. Church, 7 PM
Thursday, August 15 Festal Orthros, 9:30 and Divine Liturgy, 10:30 AM
Saturday, September 21 Fall Hafli
Monday, September 30 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Do not say, ‘This happened by chance, while this came to be of itself.’ In all that exists there is nothing disorderly, nothing indefinite, nothing without purpose, nothing by chance. How many hairs are on your head? God will not forget one of them. Do you see how nothing, even the smallest thing, escapes the gaze of God?.”
- St. Chrysostom
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America