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, February 25, 2024
Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican
Tone 5 and Eothinon 5
Tarasios the Confessor, Archbishop of Constantinople
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 Pharisee and the Publican – Tone 4
Let us run away from the words of the boastful Pharisee, and learn the humility of the publican, crying with sighs to the Saviour, Have mercy upon us, O thou alone of true reconciliation.
Epistle – II Timothy 3:10-15 (Pharisee and Publican)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 75.11, 1. Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse. God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gospel – Luke 18:10-14 (Pharisee and Publican)
THE LORD SPOKE THIS PARABLE: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 6:12-20 (Prodigal Son)
Luke 15:11-32 (Prodigal Son)
Today we are privileged and blessed to welcome Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Jeremy Davis to preside at the divine services in the absence of Fr. Michael. Fr. Jeremy is the Protosyngellos of the Archdiocese and Administrative Assistant to Metropolitan SABA at the Antiochian Archdiocese Headquarters in Englewood, NJ.
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR FEBRUARY– There is no fasting the week of the Pharisee and Publican (February 25-March 2).
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 March and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
BLESSING OF HOMES – Please see the flyer in this bulletin to request a home blessing.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
FEBRUARY 25, 2024 – SUNDAY OF THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN
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.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Thomas Abdallah, Margaret and Charles Assatly, Wadie Jabbour, Rt. Rev. Ananias Kassab and George Kassab, Lilly Malouf, and Wendy Sadaka Zavolas. Memory eternal!
Rhonda Byrnes offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of her parents, the servants of God Margaret and Charles Assatly. A Coffee Hour in their memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 3 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Yvonne Absey, Najibi Anthony, Ronald J. Couri, Nicholas Ghiz, William Haddad, Sr., Mounir Kaba, Robert Sabbagh, Laurice Merhige Schuh, and Marie Zarr. Memory eternal!
Anita Absey and Robert Absey will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of their mother, the handmaiden of God Yvonne Absey. Memory eternal!
The Zarr Family will offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of their beloved mother and grandmother, Marie Zarr. A Coffee Hour in her memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory Eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Dr. Robert Hadad (ME), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Howard Samara (Upper East Side Rehab), Richard Zogob (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, John Eyd, Alice Farkouh, Joyce Katen, George Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, and Rose Zrake (at home).
WINTER COAT DRIVE – The Teen SOYO Winter Coat Drive will continue through February. Coats, scarves, gloves, blankets, and other cold weather attire are welcome. Please place your offerings on the table in the vestibule. We will distribute all items to local charities and recipients.
OUTREACH CENTER – The Holy Cross Brooklyn Outreach Center will hold a fundraising event at Cebu on Monday, February 26, from 6-9 PM. Please see the flyer in this bulletin for more information.
OUR TIME – Our (over 50) senior fellowship, “Our Time”, meets every other Wednesday, including Wednesday, February 28, from 1-3 PM. All are welcome. Please see Marilyn Tulaney for more information. In addition, Our Time sponsors Pickleball on Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9 PM. All players and spectators are welcome.
TEEN SOYO – Teen SOYO will attend Great Vespers next Saturday, March 2, before hosting a Black and Purple Neon Party featuring a Karaoke Night. All teens 12 and up are welcome to attend. Please see the flyer in this bulletin for more information.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – The Annual Parish Meeting will take place next Sunday, March 3, following the Divine Liturgy. Please submit your nominations for the Parish Council to Vice Chair Dianna Russo Kitchen after securing the nominee’s willingness to serve. Teen SOYO will offer a light lunch at a minimal cost underwritten by Gale Zarr in loving memory of her mother, Marie Zarr.
PARKING – We ask our faithful parishioners to reserve the limited parking spaces directly in front of the church for our senior members and for those with mobility issues. Thank you for your cooperation!
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP – Registration for Summer Camp has opened. Please open an account and register at www.avcamp.org. Scholarship assistance is available from the camp and from the parish.
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 – Everyone who has children should make provision for them in the event of a calamity through a will or estate plan. That plan should also provide for the spiritual welfare of the children by including something for the long-term stability and ministry of the church.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, February 28 “Our Time” Senior Fellowship, 1-3 PM
Saturday, March 2 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Teen Glow-in-the-Dark Karaoke Party
Sunday, March 3 Annual Parish Meeting
Saturday, March 9 No Great Vespers
Sunday, March 10 Meat Fare Sunday
Monday, March 11 Parish Council, 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 17 Cheese Fare/Forgiveness Sunday
Monday, March 18 Clean Monday – Great Lent Begins
Great Compline @ St. Nicholas Cathedral, 7:00 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “There must be an inner contrition with sincere repentance, in order for a person to be corrected. This is why St. Mark the Ascetic says, ‘If one does not feel contrition commensurate to his fault, he will easily fall into the same fault again.’ In other words, if the mistake is minor, the repentance can also be less severe; but if the mistake is major, then more severe repentance is required. When people do not grasp the severity of their sins and do not experience grief ‘commensurate to their fault,’ then they can easily fall into the same – or even greater -- fault.”
- Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America