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, August 4, 2024
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 5 and Eothinon 6
The Holy Seven Sleeping Youths of Ephesus
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 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 12:6-15 (Sixth Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 11.7, 1. You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse. Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.
BRETHREN, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Gospel – Matthew 9:1-8 (Sixth Sunday of Matthew)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus got into a boat, crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he then said to the paralytic – “Rise, take up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they marveled, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Next week’s homework: Romans 15:1-7 (Seventh Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 9:27-35 (Seventh Sunday of Matthew)
HOLY BREAD – The Arnuk and Spolar Families offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of August in loving memory of the servant of God Dr. Issam Arnuk. Memory eternal! James Harris offers the Holy Bread of Oblation in loving memory of his sister, the handmaiden of God Barbra Ann Harris. Memory eternal! The Zarr Family offers the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of August in loving memory of their parents Marie and George Zarr. Memory Eternal! Additional donors are welcome for August 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 – The final fasting season of the ecclesiastical year, the Fast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, began on August 1 and continues until August 14. The fasting period ends with the celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos on Thursday, August 15.
AUGUST 4, 2024 – SIXTH 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, AUGUST 4 - We 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!
Joyce Katen offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Victoria Ayoub Katen. Memory eternal!
Paula Arnuk and Family offer Prayers of Oblation, the Holy Bread and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Dr. Issam Arnuk. A Coffee Hour in his memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Stephanie Bittar, Agnes Hamwi, George J. Kalesh, Robert Karkenny, Salwa Khoury, Itidal Makdissi, LouLou Malouf, and Margaret Razook. Memory eternal!
Susan Nelson will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Salwa Khoury. Memory eternal!
The Farkouh and Malouf Families will offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread in loving memory of Loulou and George Malouf. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Nicholas Massab (NYU Lutheran), Howard Samara (Upper East Side Rehab), Rouda Abboud, 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).
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR AUGUST – The Dormition Fast for the Dormition of the Theotokos began on Thursday, August 1, and continues until the feast on August 15. The traditional fasting discipline during this period is no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil and their by-products except for Saturdays and Sundays when wine and olive oil are allowed. On the Feast of the Transfiguration (Tuesday) fish, wine, and olive oil are allowed. On Thursday, August 29, we remember the Beheading of St. John the Baptist with the traditional fasting discipline.
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. Dr. Nicolas Elkhoury has offered the grapes for blessing and distribution today and on Tuesday. Many years!
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
PARAKLESIS – It is customary to celebrate the Paraklesis (Supplicatory Canon) to the Theotokos during the Dormition Fast. While we often pray for the repose of the souls of our loved ones, this service prays for the living. We will celebrate this service this Wednesday, August 7, at 7 PM.
SUMMER SEMESTER – We will resume our online class this Tuesday, August 6, 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 4.
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. Invitations went out last week. Please let us know if you did not receive one.
BACKPACK PROJECT – Teen SOYO will assemble the backpacks and supplies for their service project next Sunday, August 11, following the Divine Liturgy. We still need a couple of sponsors at $25 for a backpack. The Teens thank you for supporting their community outreach project!
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
Wednesday, August 7 Paraklesis, 7:00 PM
Sunday, August 11 Teen SOYO prepares backpacks
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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
FROM THE FATHERS – “When you doubt in the truth of any person or any event described in Holy Scripture, then remember that ‘all Scripture is given by inspiration of God,’ as the Apostle says, and is therefore true, and does not contain any imaginary persons, fables, and tales, although it includes parables which everyone can see are not true narratives but are written in figurative language. The whole of the Word of God is single, entire, indivisible truth; and if you admit that any narrative, sentence, or word is untrue, then you sin against the truth of the whole of Holy Scripture and its primordial Truth, which is God Himself. ‘I am the truth,’ said the Lord. ‘Thy word is truth, ‘ said Jesus Christ to God the Father. Thus, consider the whole of the Holy Scripture as truth; everything that is said in it has either taken place or takes place.”
- St. John of Kronstadt