Church Office: (718) 238-8008
81st Street and Ridge Boulevard(718) 759-0256
Brooklyn, NY11209 Rectory: (718) 745-8481
E-Fax: (901) 234-8008 E-mail: smaoc@earthlink.net
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, Pastor
Very Rev. Fr. P.W.S. Schneirla, Pastor Emeritus
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 5 and Eothinon 8
Great Martyr Prokopios of Caesarea in Palestine
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
Troparion 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.
Troparion 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 – 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, I 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: Titus 3:8-15 (Holy Fathers)
Matthew 5:14-19 (Holy Fathers)
SPECIAL REQUEST – We respectfully request that the faithful remain standing quietly and reverently during the distribution of the Holy Eucharist. The only exceptions are cases of advanced age or infirmity. Thank you for your pious cooperation.
WORD MAGAZINE – All registered members of the parish are entitled to receive the Word Magazine at home. If you are not receiving the Word, please contact the church office so that we can submit your name for the mailing list. Thank you.
BULLETIN ON-LINE – Miss church one Sunday? Did you know that we post the weekly bulletin on the web? Simply go to www.antiochian.org, go to the St. Mary’s page, and view the bulletin at home.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and pagers are turned off in church.
JULY 8, 2007– SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
THIS SUNDAY, JULY 8 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Marguerite and Fred Farkouh¸ Valentine Trabulsi, William Lewis, Robert Malouf, Vivian Salem and Mahiba Backal. Memory eternal!
Nancy Schmidt, Sandra Arida, Dena Moore, Laila Ellias, Dr. John and Shamseh Dalack, Evelyn Shamoun, Fred Hadad, Gareth Ganim, Marie Tashji, Irene Tashji, John Generale, Anthony Zrake, Andrea Zrake, Christina Zrake, Valerie Zrake and a “Guest” offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of their fellow and long-time choir member, Susan Paula Dib. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 15 - We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Bassem Sukkarieh, Amelia Khoury, Jamela Eadeh, Toufic Ayoub, Rose Khoury, Joseph Arida, Michael Jureidini and Amelia Mansfield. Memory eternal!
TODAY’S USHERS – Audrey Sahadi, Sonia Abou Naoum, Tony Tadross, and Renee Gestone-Landry will serve as ushers.The ushers will assist us in proceeding row by row so that we can distribute Holy Communion “decently and in order.” Thank you for your pious cooperation.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially Mary Farkouh and Stuart Nahas (NYU), William Simon (Metropolitan), Mary Alexander, Lila Ara, Charles and Margaret Assatly, Mabel Bittar, Shamseh Dalack, Gloria Fadel, Denis Fitzgerald, Victoria Joseph (FL), Albert Kaidy, Turquie Kinani, Victor and Laura Makhoul, Edmund Saleeby, William Shamoun, Edmund Swaya and Nouha Tweel (at home).
PARISH COUNCIL – The Parish Council will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, July 9 at 7:30 PM.
90TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE – The Planning Committee for the 90th Anniversary Celebration of St. Mary’s Church will meet on Monday, July 16 at 8:00 PM.
LIVE AND SILENT AUCTION – The working committee for the wildly successful Live and Silent Auction at Bayard’s on May 5 will have a wrap-up meeting on Wednesday, July 18 at 7:30 PM here.
CLASS REUNION – The Fort Hamilton High School Alumni Association is looking for members of the Class of 1958 for a reunion in September 2008. Please contact FHHSClassof58@yahoo.com.
ALTAR SERVER ROBES – We have ordered new gold altar server robes to replace our current old and worn set. We would welcome donations toward this project. In addition to donations from the Sparsidis Family, George Khoury, Jr., Mary Ganim, Lily Lang, Bill and Nadia Soued, Janet Sadaka, and Robert and Evelyn Mouracade, we have received new donations from Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sayegh in loving memory of Rose Smatt and Sons, and from Elaina Paris for the health of her sons. The approximate cost is $100 per robe.
SUMMER PLEDGES – As many of our members prepare for their vacations, we ask everyone to maintain their pledge payments as the summer months are historically a little lean.
CHRISTMAS IN JULY – Fr. Thomas Zain has reserved a block of tickets to see the Christmas Extravaganza at Radio City Music Hall on Tuesday, December 4 at 5:00 PM. Through a group discount tickets are only $50. Please call Fr. Tom at (718) 855-6225 or 748-7940 for details.
WEB SITE – We have started to build a new parish web site. If you have web design experience and would like to help, please contact Fr. Michael or Tony Tadross.
48th ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION – Fr. Peter Shportun and the faithful of St. Nicholas Church in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, invite everyone to share the 48th Convention of the Antiochian Archdiocese at the Le Centre Sheraton from July 23-29, 2007. Go to www.stnicholasmtl.org to download registration forms, see the ad in the Word magazine, or see Fr. Michael.
SUMMER TUTORING – One of our parishioners does maintenance/remediation tutoring in reading and math for grades K to 6 during the summer. Call this educator with 32 years of teaching experience at (718) 836-4557 to improve your student’s skills.
OFFICE HOURS – Please note that the church office will operate on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM during the months of July and August.
EMPTIES4CASH – The Fellowship of St. John is collecting empty inkjet cartridges for recycling. We can earn between $2 and $4 per cartridge. Simply bring in your empties, deposit them in the box near the Bookstore, and we will ship them back for redemption. No toner cartridges, please!
OFFERING ENVELOPES – Please note that if you receive monthly envelopes and do not use them, we cannot guarantee credit to you account. There are always envelopes in the vestibule for this purpose. Kindly use one of these envelopes if you have forgotten your own. If you do not receive envelopes, please inform the office, and the secretary will submit your name to the mailing company.
PASTORAL EMERGENCY – Fr. Michael will be out of town from Tuesday through Friday this week. In the event of a pastoral emergency, please call Fr. Thomas Zain, Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral, at (718) 855-6225 (office) or (718) 748-7940 (rectory).
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, July 9 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Monday, July 16 90th Anniversary Committee Meeting, 8:00 PM
Wednesday, July 18 Live/Silent Auction Wrap Up Meeting, 7:30 PM
Friday, July 20 Teens/Fellowship Make Sandwiches, 6:00 PM
Saturday, July 21 Teens/Fellowship @ Soup Kitchen, 11:00 AM
Monday, July 23-Sunday, July 29 Archdiocese Convention, Montreal
Friday, October 19-Sunday, October 21 90th Anniversary Celebration
CHURCH SIGNS – It’s hard to stumble when you’re down on your knees!
