February 5, 2012

Sunday of the Pharisee and PublicanSunday of the Pharisee and PublicanSunday of the Pharisee and PublicanSunday of the Pharisee and Publican

احد الفريسى والعشار

TTTT he Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they “did all their

works to be seen of men” (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid.23:13, 14, 15, etc), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre’s sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee,and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble mindedness. Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labours by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest height. Taken from: The Great Horologion

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WELCOME

We welcome His Eminence Metropolitan GEORGE (AbuZakhem), Metropolitan of Homs and the Dependents of Syria.

He is visiting family and will serve Liturgy in our Holy Church.

FATHER GEORGE H. SHALHOUB

248-374-0591

February 5, 2012 Issue 308

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The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary

Fr. George Shalhoub - Pastor Fr. Jim King - Director of Youth & Pastoral Outreach Programs Deacon Issa Rizkallah

313-690-2030 Deacon Dr. Dennis Bojrab Robert Harb - Parish Council Chairman Linda Lawson - Choir Director Stacey Badeen - Church Administrator Dianne Farah-Church School Administrator Arwa Ansara-Asst. Church School

Administrator Richard Shebib/Sami Azzouz - Ushers George Chalhoub - Young Adults- St. John Divine Dolly Matta - Ladies Society President Nicole Khamis - Teen Soyo President Lina Nunu - Arabic School Keith Rowe - Cultural Center General Manager 734-421-9220

The Light of Christ

AL-NOUR

PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY:

THE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX BASILICA OF ST. MARY

Page 2 The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary

THE EPISTLE

Make vows to the Lord thy God and perform them. In Judah, God is known; His name is great in Israel

The Reading is from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy Chapter 3:10-15

TTTT imothy my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and my sufferings; and 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 impostors 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.

THE GOSPEL

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke Chapter 18:10-14

TTTT he 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, extortionists, 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 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Page 3

PRAYER CORNER memorials

IIII am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25) Feb. 12th-6 month memorial in loving memory of Pam Khoury Ajlouny offered by her husband Jimmy Ajlouny and children and parents Peter and Wisam Khoury, Feb. 12th-6 month memorial in loving memory of Sami Mashni offered by Bahieh Mashni and family. Feb. 12th-6 month memorial in loving memory of Rola Kassis offered by her husband Rimon Kassis and family,

Thank You

OUR NEW ARRIVALS

“A Vigil Light is Burning” In Loving Devotion

FFFF or The Health and Well Being Of: Kevin Penny, Elizabeth Pinkerton,

IIII n Memory Of: Joseph Michael Mouaikel; George Abodeely;

Ken Biedron, Nisima Dayoub,

HOLY BREAD OF OBLATION

Sermon On-Line If you missed Fr. George’s

sermon last Sunday, you can now listen to him or you can see the full

Liturgy at www.saintmarylivonia.com click on multimedia and go to videos

Last few week’s sermons:

The Message, “I am the Temple of

God” is so Frightening to Me

Have a Change of Heart By: Fr. Jim King

On the Sunday of the Ten Lepers

By: Fr. Anthony Hughes

What Does Repentance Mean?

HHHH oly Bread of Oblation is offered, for the month of February by the families, in loving memory of:

Paul, Aziz, & Suham Rizqalla Fuad Hanania

Hala Essam Sackllah Said Shaheen Rola Kassis Sam Harb

George Amjad Saba Boulos and Helen Saba

Salman and Fatha Sweiss Jeanette &Norma Jean Kazaleh

William Nader Sam Sirhan

HHHH oly Bread of Oblation is offered, for the month of February by the families, for the health and well being of:

Timothy Lawson Jenine and Miles Brown

James, Nancy, Paul, Nicholas and Christopher Rizqalla

Awni, Sahar, Michael, Nicole and Rawan Qaqish

Sam and Suad Geraisy Nabeel Tony Faris

LLLL ord, you are the physician of our souls and body. We pray

You grant the following parishioners good health and blessings: Anthony Salah, Nahida Farhat, Richard Koerber, Sandy Peters, Colleen Ansara, Nadia Alkateeb, Marie,

CCCC ongratulations and best wishes to Nick and Colleen Kanaan on the birth of their baby girl, Emilia Noelle. Proud grand-parents are Dan and Andrea Kanaan and Ron and Ginger Springer. Proud great grand-mothers are Stella Kallil and Patricia Kanaan. May God bless parents, grandparents and child.

TTTT he following parishioners and friends of the Basilica of St.

Mary have given special donations to the Church in the past few weeks: $50-For the health and well being of newly churched Victoria offered by her parents, Paul and Jomana Saba, $50-In loving memory of brother George Amjad offered by Paul and Jomana Saba, $100-For the health and well being of newly baptized Nabeel Tony Faris offered by his parents, Tony and May Faris, $100-In loving memory of our beloved nephew and cousin Amjad George Saba offered by his uncles, aunts and cousins. Amjad, your legacy will be forever. Love you. $100-In loving memory of Jalil Ghannam offered by his wife Suad Ghannam and family, $100-In loving memory of Jalil Ghannam offered by Andrew Ansara, $100-In loving memory of Jalil Ghannam offered by Isa and Seham Azzouz, $200-In loving memory of George Amjad Saba offered by his parents, George and Itidal Saba, $450-In loving memory of Naimah Zayed Khalil offered by the family,

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR ST. MARY PARISHIONERS

Feb. 10-11th-Marriage Seminar Feb. 11th - Valentine Party

For Sale Golden Lake Condominium in W. Palm Beach, Florida. 2 bedroom/2bath, large porch, all tiled, furnished end unit. Asking $68,000. Please call Andria at 248-302-0522 for more information.

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Week of February 5 2012

Please visit our website for details about all the Basilica of St. Mary events and activities. www.saintmarylivonia.com

UPCOMING EVENTSUPCOMING EVENTSUPCOMING EVENTSUPCOMING EVENTS

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SAVE THE DATES

May 31st – June 3rd St. Mary’s annual Festival

More information to follow.

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October 12th, 13th, and 14th, 2012 The Basilica of St. Mary will be graced by

His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary. Friday evening: Welcome Reception Saturday evening: Grand Banquet

Sunday afternoon: Brunch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WELCOME Please join us in welcoming Metropolitan GEORGE (AbuZakhem),

Metropolitan of Homs and Dependents of Syria to the Basilica of St. Mary.

His Eminence will be serving Liturgy in our Holy Church.