August 5, 2012

Who are the Prophets and what did they say?

Joel called for administrative justice and cited the plague of locusts as God’s judgment. In the book of Acts the Apostle Peter cited the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as the fulfillment of a Joel prophecy. Amos was a herdsman and much like St. John Chrysostom, addressed the extravagant and callous living among those at court. He insisted that temple ritual could not take the place of personal righteousness. Jonah, the name means dove, but a dove he was not. He challenged God’s justice and tried to run away from the prophetic office. He boarded a ship, only to be tossed overboard and swallowed by a great fish from which he was miraculously delivered. He then went and de-livered his prophecy against the Ninevites but sulked afterward when they re-pented and escaped God’s judgment. Hosea was a countryman in love with the land and had a good knowledge of both wild and domestic animals. In order to demonstrate the faithfulness of God and the unfaithfulness of God’s people he was told to marry a harlot and remain faithful to her. Micah too was a countryman and concerned with the injustices that befell the poor, the farmer, and the small landowners. He also names Bethlehem as the birthplace of our Lord, 700 years before it happened.

Isaiah, the greatest of the Hebrew prophets prophesied against the sins of his own people and against many of the surrounding nations. He prophesied Cyrus by name, 700 years before the future deliverer freed the exiles. He spoke of Shalom, our word for peace, and prophesied Christ’s birth: His upbringing, triumphal entry, and Passion. His description of John the Baptist marks the beginning of St. Mark’s gospel.

(continued next week)

FATHER GEORGE H. SHALHOUB

248-374-0591 August 5, 2012 Issue 333

�18100 Merriman Road � Livonia, Michigan 48152 � www.saintmarylivonia.com � Office: (734)-422-0010 �

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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 Georgine Hayes - 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 your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.

God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.

The Reading is from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians Chapter 3:9-17

BBBB rethen, we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given me, like a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that Gods’ Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are.

THE GOSPEL

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew Chapter 14:22-34

AAAA t that time, Jesus made the Disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the Disciples’ boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the Disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is Thee, bid me come to Thee on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly, Thou art the Son of God.” And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

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) Aug. 5th - 40 day memorial in loving memory of George Ziadeh offered by his wife Rima Ziadeh and family, Aug. 5th - 1 year memorial in loving memory of Pam Ajlouny offered by her husband Jimmy Ajlouny and children and her parents, Peter and Wisam Khoury, Aug. 12th - 1 year memorial in loving memory of Sami Mousa Mashni offered by Bahieh Mashni and family, Aug. 12th - 1 year memorial in loving memory of Rola Kassis offered by her husband Rimon Kassis and children, Aug. 26th - 6 month memorial in loving memory of Shawky Mousa offered by his wife Jannette Mousa and family,

Thank You

OUR NEW ARRIVALS

“A Vigil Light is Burning” In Loving Devotion

FFFF or The Health and Well Being Of:

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

Ken Biedron, Mary Sfeir,

HOLY BREAD OF OBLATION

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

Pamela Khoury Ajlouny Samir and Nadia Ansara

Freddy Essa Martha Sackllah

Hala Sackllah

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

You grant the following parish-ioners good health and blessings: Dr. Muaiad Shihadeh, Gloria Harb, Debbie Harb, baby Angela Barakat, Farida Rabah, Nabiha Kashou, Jalil Warra, Nicholas Samaan,

Congratulations and best wishes to Jonathan and Rania Moaikel on the birth of their baby girl, Serena Jane. Proud grand-parents are Nazih and Judy Moaikel and Gerges and Jamal Mouaikel. May God bless parents, grand-parents 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: $100-For the health and well being of Gabriel and Dalilah Kakish offered by parents Saed and Farrah Kakish, $200-In loving memory of Hanna Shanlikian offered by Sami and Hasmeek Freij, $200-In loving memory of Jamal Alkateeb offered by Kamal and Yasmine Shouhayib, $300-In loving memory of mother Jamal Alkateeb offered by Jihad and Nadia Alkateeb, $500-In loving memory of Pam Ajlouny offered by her parents Peter and Wisam Khoury,

From the Heart

Peace begins within our own being where God

resides beyond our seeing, and peace is one thing

you’ll never find when you are at war in your own

heart and mind.

For my brethren and com-panions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”

Psalm 122:8

Upcoming Events for St. Mary Parishioners

Sept. 14th - Byzantine Choir Concert Oct. 12-14 - 40th anniversary celebration

From Your Treasurer’s We wish to remind you that payment of Archdiocese dues is very important. The annual dues are now $25.00 per member with a family maximum of $100.00. Collection of Archdiocese dues from individual parishioners is a major part of our

budget. Please help us meet our ob-ligations by making your payment of Archdiocese dues. Sincerely,

Andrew Ansara, Don Hayes & Maha Khalil Co-Treasurer’s

Holy Dormition Fast In honor of the Fast of the Holy Dormition (falling asleep of the Mother of God), two services will be held – Friday, August 3rd at 7pm and Tuesday, August 14th at 7pm.

Page 4 The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary

Week of August 5, 2012

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

The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Page 5

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The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary SAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATE

October 12October 12October 12October 12thththth, 13, 13, 13, 13thththth, and 14, and 14, and 14, and 14thththth, 2012, 2012, 2012, 2012

The Basilica of St. Mary will be graced by His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary.

Friday evening: Welcome ReceptionFriday evening: Welcome ReceptionFriday evening: Welcome ReceptionFriday evening: Welcome Reception Saturday evening: Grand BanquetSaturday evening: Grand BanquetSaturday evening: Grand BanquetSaturday evening: Grand Banquet Sunday afternoon: BrunchSunday afternoon: BrunchSunday afternoon: BrunchSunday afternoon: Brunch

Formal invitations and reservation information to follow.