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, March 10, 2024
Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meat Fare)
Tone 7 and Eothinon 7
Martyr Kondratos of Corinth and His Five Companions
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 7
Thou didst shatter death by thy Cross. Thou didst open paradise to the thief. Thou didst turn the mourning of the ointment-bearing women into joy, and didst bid thine Apostles proclaim a warning that thou hast risen, O Christ, granting to the world thy Great Mercy.
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 Meat Fare Sunday – Tone 1
When thou comest, O God, to earth with glory, and all creatures tremble before thee, and the river of fire floweth before the Altar, and the books are opened and sins revealed, deliver me then from that unquenchable fire, and make me worthy to stand at thy right hand, O righteous Judge.
Epistle – I Corinthians 8:8-9:2 (Meat Fare Sunday)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 117.14, 18. The Lord is my strength and my son.
Verse. The Lord has chastened me sorely.
BRETHREN, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
Gospel – Matthew 25:31-46 (Meat Fare Sunday)
THE LORD SAID, “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see the hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Next week’s homework: Romans 13:11-14:4 (Forgiveness Sunday)
Matthew 6:14-21 (Cheese Fare)
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.”
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
MARCH 10, 2024 – SUNDAY OF THE LAST JUDGMENT (MEAT FARE)
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.
MARCH IS WOMEN’S MONTH IN THE ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE!
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 clergy and Administrative Assistant to Metropolitan SABA at the Antiochian Archdiocese Headquarters in Englewood, NJ.
SUNDAY, MARCH 10 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Eleanor Couri, Salwa Fauty, Laila Nassr, Mary Samara D’Angelico, Areff Samara, Vincent D’Angelico, Robert Samara and Rose Araktingi Samara, and Gloria Sparsidis. Memory eternal!
Raymond, Leila and Joyce Trabulsi offer Prayers of Oblation for the health of the servant of God Dr. Robert Hadad. Many yeas!
NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 17 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dr. George B. Cury, Mary Ganim, Mary Hamaty, Gloria L. Harris, Gloria and Edward Jabara Sr., Bikturia Kaba, Maurice Khzam, Violette Shamas Mahab, Nadima and Alfred G. Makhoul, Thomas Russo, Frederick P. Schroeder, Elias Shawah and Robert Thabit, Esq. Memory eternal!
Mona Thabit of LaJolla, CA, will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Robert (Bob) Thabit, Esq. Memory eternal!
Refaat Kabah will offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of the servant of God George Kadour and prayers for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dr. Vicky Zaher, Monir Kaba, Wajiha Kaba and Afifa Zaher. Memory eternal!
Lynette Ganim will offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of her mother, the handmaiden of God Mary Ganim at Great Vespers this Saturday, March 16. Memory eternal!
Our Parish Family will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 10-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP of thrice-blessed memory (March 19). Memory eternal!
MARCH IS LADIES MONTH! Our ushers today are Barbara Deeb, Janice Deeb, Samia Keriaky, and Therese Khouri. The Epistle will be read by Angela Athineos in English and Samia Keriaky in Arabic. Leen Zgheib and Razan Maalouf will assist with Holy Communion.
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR MARCH – Today, Meat Fare, is the last day to eat meat and its by-products, and Sunday, March 17, is Cheese Fare, the last day we eat dairy. Great Lent begins on Monday, March 18.
HOLY BREAD – Donors are welcome for March and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Dr. Robert Hadad (ME), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Vicky Nahas (MA), 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).
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – The Annual Parish Meeting elected Bassam Maalouf, Irene Tashji, and Leen Zgheib to three-year terms, and the pastor appointed Nahla Bittar, Rob Sabbagh, and George Trisciuzzi to one-year terms. The new council then re-elected Anthony Zrake as chair and Aline Farkouh as secretary, and elected Rob Sabbagh as vice-chair and Irene Tashji as treasurer. We thank Diana Kaiami, Dianna Kitchen and Daria Mayrose for their outstanding service as they leave the council, as well as Wade Saadi who continues his recovery. Many years!
SEMINARIANS – Our pledge envelopes for the month of March included a blue envelope marked “Seminarians.” Please use this envelope to support the Metropolitan’s annual appeal on behalf of our theological students. Our minimum contribution as a parish is $500. If anyone is currently not receiving pledge envelopes, please see Fr. Michael or Parish Council Chair Anthony Zrake.
OUR TIME – Our (over 50) senior fellowship, “Our Time”, meets every other Wednesday, including Wednesday, March 13, 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.
FAMILY NIGHT AND MIDNIGHT RUN – There will be a Family Night on Friday, March 15, from 7-9 PM, and Deacon Farid will lead our delegation on the Midnight Run into Manhattan to minister to the homeless and the immigrant population. Deacon usually goes to Holy Cross Church around 8 PM to help with the preparation of the food and clothing for distribution, and the group typically leaves around 9 PM for the city. The group returns to Bay Ridge around midnight. Please see Deacon Farid if you wish to participate.
FORGIVENESS SUNDAY AND MISSIONS SUNDAY – Next Sunday, March 17, is both Forgiveness Sunday and Missions Sunday. Dan Christopulos from the Orthodox Christian Missions Center (OCMC) will address us both at the end of the Divine Liturgy and with a brief presentation at the Coffee Hour which OCMC will sponsor. Jeannie Arida, a member of the OCMC Board of Trustees, will also be present to distribute literature. We will then return to the church for Great Vespers and the Rite of Forgiveness to inaugurate Great Lent.
FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION – We will celebrate the Evening Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom at 6:00 PM on Monday, March 25, for the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos. Fr. Thomas Zain and the faithful of St. Nicholas Cathedral will join us.
ORDER OF ST. IGNATIS OF ANTIOCH TOWN HALL – The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch will host a Town Hall Meeting here at St. Mary’s Church on Monday, March 25, following the Evening Divine Liturgy for the Annunciation. A light meal will follow the Divine Liturgy. Mr. Edward Assile, a past president of the Governing Council of the Order and its current Treasurer, will make a presentation about the work of the Order. All current and potential members are encouraged to attend.
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S - The Ladies of St. Mary’s invite all our parishioners (men too!) to participate in our humanitarian project this year. We once again request the preparation of hygiene kits to be distributed to the homeless during the Midnight Run each month. In a one gallon ZipLock bag please include: 1 washcloth, bar of soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, nail clipper, comb, 3 band-aids, disposable razor (optional). Feel free to prepare more than one kit! The kits can be given to Sandra Arida or any one of the Ladies. Thank you all for your support.
ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN’S SCHOLARSHIP – The Antiochian Women of North America offer several scholarships each year, usually in the amount of $500 each. Applicants must be women over 26 years of age and in good standing in their home parish. Applicants must be actively involved in their parishes and must be applying for or be registered in an academic or trade program of study. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need. Please see Ladies’ President Sandra Arida or Fr. Michael for an application. The application deadline is June 1, 2024.
ESTATE PLANNING – On this day when we contemplate our standing before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let me ask myself what I can leave in my will or estate plan to the church.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, March 10 Meat Fare Sunday Luncheon
Monday, March 11 Parish Council, 7 PM
Wednesday, March 13 “Our Time” Adult Fellowship, 1-3 PM
Friday, March 15 Family Night, 7-9 PM and Midnight Run
Saturday, March 16 Great Vespers, 5 PM
One-Year Memorial – Mary Ganim
Sunday, March 17 Cheese Fare/Forgiveness Sunday/Missions Sunday
Monday, March 18 Clean Monday – Great Lent Begins
Great Compline @ St. Nicholas Cathedral, 7 PM
Wednesday, March 20 Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 6:30 PM
Friday, March 22 First Little Compline/Akathist/Madayeh, 6:30 PM
Monday, March 25 Evening Divine Liturgy for the Annunciation, 6:00 PM
Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch Town Hall, 7:15 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “The fire which man will experience in the next life will be different from the fire of the present life. The fire of this life is extinguished in various ways, whereas the fire of the next life remains unextinguished.”
- St. Gregory of Nyssa