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 Most Reverend 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 5, 2025
The Theophany of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ (Celebrated)
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.
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of Epiphany – Tone 1
By thy baptism, O Lord, in the River Jordan, worship to the Trinity hath made its appearance; for the voice of the Lord did come forth to thee with the testimony, naming thee His beloved Son; and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove, confirming the truth of the word. Wherefore, O thou who didst appear and lighted the world, O Christ, glory to thee.
Kontakion of Epiphany – Tone 4
Today thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and thy light hath been shed upon us, who praise thee with knowledge, saying, Thou hast come and appeared, O unapproachable Light.
Instead of “Holy God…” “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.”
Epistle – Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 (Epiphany)
Prokeimenon. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Verse. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
MY SON TITUS: The grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard thee.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.
Gospel - St. Matthew 3:13-17 (Epiphany)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it to be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Next week’s homework: Ephesians 4:7-13 (Sunday after Theophany)
St. Matthew 4:12-17 (Sunday after Theophany)
MEGALYNARION – All creation rejoiceth in thee, O thou who art full of grace: the angelic hosts and the race of men. O hallowed temple and spiritual paradise, glory of virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a little child, even our God who is before all the ages; for he made thy womb a throne, and thy body more spacious than the heavens. All creation rejoiceth in thee, O thou who art full of grace. Glory to thee.
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.
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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
JANUARY 5, 2025 – THE THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST (CELEBRATED)
TODAY, JANUARY 5 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Fred Arida, Economous Faried Farkouh and Khouryee Wassila Farkouh, Hooda Germack, Mary Hamwi, Maria Hindelly, Robert Malouf, Rose Merhige, Ronald Sadaka, Effie Shraky, Ann Marie Smatt, and Nazli N. and Demetri Zayat. Memory eternal!
Naziha Mikhael Aldaia offers Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the souls of her parents, the servants of God Kazon and Michael. Memory eternal!
Deacon Farid and Aline Farkouh offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Economous Faried and Khouryee Wassila Farkouh. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Eli Abdallah, Nora and Kalil Ballan, Ameenie Freije, Emily and Edward Ghazal, Pauline Haddad, Leila M. Khouri, Riad Malouf, Edma Saab, Robert Samara, Edmund Arthur Swaya, Nora Trefz, and Emil Tweel. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Dr. Alice Farkouh (Eger, Staten Island), John Petrick (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Isla Albishara, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, Diana Finger, George Khoury, Joseph Khouri, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, William Robinson, Raymond Saleeby, and Victoria Sleyman (at home).
VISITATION OF THE SICK AND HOUSE-BOUND – If someone in your household is sick at home, in the hospital or in a convalescent center, please notify the church office as soon as possible. Please do not assume that we will know simply “through the grapevine.”
WINTER COAT DRIVE –Teen SOYO will continue receiving coats and winter outerwear at least through January. There is a large green box in the vestibule. We will distribute all items to the Pan-Orthodox Holy Cross Outreach Center on 4th Avenue and during the Midnight Run.
OUR TIME – Our (over 50) senior fellowship, “Our Time”, meets every other Wednesday, including Wednesday, January 8, from 1-3 PM. All are welcome. Please see Marilyn Tulaney or the flyer in this bulletin for more information. In addition, Our Time sponsors Pickleball on Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9 PM. All players and spectators are welcome.
BLESSING OF HOMES – Fr. Michael will begin blessing homes this week. Please use the form in this bulletin to request a home visit.
PRAYERS FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – Deacon Farid and Aline Farkouh will once again organize our annual hosting of the Day of Prayer for Christian Unity following Great Vespers on Saturday, January 18. A light supper will follow the services. Please see Aline or the flyer in this bulletin for more information. All are welcome!
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP – The Antiochian Village will host Winter Family Camp on January 17-20 with newly ordained Deacon Dr. Gregory Abdalah and Winter Camp on February 14-17 with Fr. Anthony Yazge, Deacon Marek Simon, and Fr. Michael Nasser. Also, registration for Summer Camp opens this evening at 5:00 PM. Please open an account and register at www.avcamp.org. Scholarship assistance is available from the camp and from the parish.
CHRISTMAS OFFERINGS – We acknowledge the Christmas offerings from Nicole and Jeff Anderson, Euguene Arida, Sandra Arida, Joan Bacon, Michelle Braca, Claudette Budai, Rhonda Byrnes, Sandra and Robert Coogan, Katherine and Hassan Dagher, Gloria Darzi, Barbara M. Deeb, Janice Deeb, Nicole Darzi Eckert, Fr. Michael and Laila Ellias, Anita and John Eyd, Diana Finger, Josette and John Generale, Frances and Ronald Ghiz, Alyssa Haddad, James Harris, Lina and Samer Kaiami, George Khoury, Jr., Nicole and George Khouzami, Nataliya Latushkina, George Maalouf, Anne and Sabry Mackoul, Corrine and Michael Mallia, Linda Mantia, Clifford Massab, George Moore, Rauaa and Ibrahim Nader, Renee and Ted Najjar, Kathryn and George Nassoor, Tony Nehme, Rob and Amanda Rich, Marian Russo, Gail and Wade Saadi, Audrey and Charles Sahadi, Louise Sahadi, Robert Sahadi, Wanda Salloum, Roland Salloum, Victor Samaha, Brenda Samman, Karen and Carl Slater, Karen and Anthony Tadross, Irene Tashji, George Trisciuzzi, Diana Zamaria, and Kathleen and Karl Zarr.
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 – What will I leave to my parish in my will or estate plan so that those who come after me will share the same and even greater blessings?
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, January 5 Great Feast of Epiphany – celebrated
Great Blessing of Water
Wednesday, January 8 “Our Time” Adult Fellowship, 1-3 PM
Saturday, January 11 Great Vespers, 5 PM
Monday, January 13 Parish Council, 7 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – Do you see, beloved, how many and how great blessngs we would have lost, if the Lord had yielded to the exhortation of John, and declined baptism? For the heavens were shut before this; the region above was inaccessible. A reconciliation took place of the visible with the invisible; the celestial orders were filled with joy; the diseases of earth were healed; secret things were made known; those at enmity were restored to amity. For you have heard the word of the evangelist, saying, The heavens were opened to Him on account of three wonders. For when Christ the Bridegroom was baptized, it was meet that the bridal-chamber of heaven should open its brilliant gates. And in like manner also, when the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and the Father’s voice spread everywere, it was meet that the gates of heaven should be lifted up. And, lo, the heavens were opened to Him; and a voice was heard, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
- St. Hippolytus of Rome
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America