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 11, 2024
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 3 and Eothinon 3
Hieromartyr Blaise, Bishop of Sebastia, and His Companions
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 3
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm. He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depth of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of St. Blaise – Tone 4
By choosing the Apostles’ way of life, thou has succeeded to their throne. Inspired by God, thou didst find the way to divine contemplation through the practice of virtue. After teaching the Word of Truth without error, thou didst defend the Faith to the very shedding of thy blood, O Holy Martyr among bishops Blaise. Entreat the Lord our God to save our souls.
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 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 – II Corinthians 6:1-10 (Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 28.11, 1. The Lord will give strength to his people
Verse. Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
BRETHREN, working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Gospel – Matthew 25:14-30 (Sixteenth Sunday of Matthew)
THE LORD SPOKE THIS PARABLE: “A man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’”
As he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Next week’s homework: II Corinthians 6:16-7:1 (Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 15:21-28 (Seventeenth Sunday of Matthew)
FEBRUARY 11, 2024 – SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dr. William and Hend Arida, David Bittar, Elias Darzi, George Ganim, Jacob Khoury, Emily Nassour, George Sabah, and Louis Sabah. Memory eternal!
Dr. Kenneth and Jeannie Arida offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dr. William and Hend Arida. A Coffee Hour in their memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
Peter Elkas offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his aunt, the handmaiden of God Emily Nassour. Memory eternal!
Lisa Hurter offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Albert, Mabel, Stephanie, and Dr. David Bittar. Memory eternal!
Susan Nelson offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of her father, the servant of God Louis Sabah. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary Alexander, Almaza Allawh, Margaret Fiani Dib, Malak Karkenny, Renges Orfaly, and Alice Puccariella. Memory eternal!
Lisa Karkenny will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of her parents, the servants of God Violet and Malak Karkenny. Memory eternal!
The Family of Joseph Rosa will offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of his soul. Memory eternal!
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR FEBRUARY– 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. There is no fasting the week of the Pharisee and Publican (February 25-March 2).
PARISH COUNCIL – The Parish Council will hold its final monthly meeting before the Annual Parish Meeting tomorrow, February 12, at 7:00 PM.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Richard Zogob (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, John Eyd, Alice Farkouh, George Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, and Rose Zrake (at home).
MEMORY ETERNAL! We are saddened to announce that the servant of God Henry J. Wardi, Esq., 94, departed this life in Florida last Sunday in the hope of the Resurrection. Services will be on February 25 in Hollywood, FL. We extend our sympathies to his niece, Lori Anne Wardi.
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.
OUR TIME – Our (over 50) senior fellowship, “Our Time”, meets every other Wednesday, including Wednesday, February 14, 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.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – The Annual Parish Meeting will take place on 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.
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. We welcome donations to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund to help send our children to the Antiochian Village Camp.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, February 11 Super Bowl Watch Party, 5-10 PM
Monday, February 12 Parish Council, 7:00 PM
Wednesday, February 14 “Our Time” Adult Fellowship, 1-3 PM
Friday, February 16 Family Night, 7- 9 PM & Midnight Run
Saturday, February17 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Monday, February 26 Holy Cross Brooklyn Outreach Fundraiser at Cebu, 6-9 PM
Saturday, March 2 Teen SOYO Karaoke Glow in the Dark Party after Vespers
Sunday, March 3 Annual Parish Meeting
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Nothing contributes to a virtuous and moral way of life as does the time you spend here in church. The time we spend here in church is the basis of every blessing.”
- St. John Chrysostom
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America